Mauna Loa shakes as Pahala area hit with swarm of earthquakes as strong as magnitude 5.0

Two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 5.0 and 4.6, shook the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa on Hawaii island this morning within a minute of each other.

The first temblor struck at 9:07 a.m., 4.9 miles south of Pahala at a depth of 8 miles, followed 24 seconds later by the 5.0 quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The larger quake was centered about 4 miles west of Pahala at a depth of 4.5 miles, USGS said.

Neither quake was large enough to generate a tsunami threat to the islands.

Although no tsunami was generated, some areas of the island may have experienced “strong shaking,” according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The USGS’s “Did you feel it?” self-reported online survey for the 5.0-magnitude quake received over 200 reports from throughout the island.

The quakes were followed by a series of smaller earthquakes in the same region, according to the USGS.

No serious injuries were immediately reported, but the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said “initial reports indicate some minor property damage in the Pahala area as a result of this morning’s seismic activity.”

Hawaiian Electric on Hawaii island reported about 534 customers without power at 9:10 a.m. Crews are responding to the scene.

In recent weeks, Mauna Loa has seen a significant increase in the number of small earthquakes, but USGS have said there are no signs that an eruption is imminent.

“However, Mauna Loa continues to be in a state of heightened unrest as indicated by increased earthquake activity and inflation of the summit,” USGS said today. “The unrest is likely caused by renewed input of magma into Mauna Loa’s summit reservoir system.”