Magnitude-5.7 earthquake shakes Hawaii’s Big Island

The recent magnitude-5.7 earthquake that shook Hawaii's Big Island serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of our planet. This event should not be taken lightly, as it highlights the urgent need for preparedness and proactive measures to mitigate the potential devastation caused by earthquakes.

 Earthquakes can have catastrophic consequences, causing loss of life and widespread destruction. The tremors felt in Hawaii were a mere fraction of what could occur in a larger seismic event. By taking this incident seriously, we can learn from it and take necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our communities.

The earthquake about 10 a.m. local time was centered 11 miles south of Naalehu, Hawaii, at a depth of 6 miles. No tsunami warning was expected, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Some shaking could be felt in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, according to the USGS Did You Feel It? page. Several aftershocks followed in the same area.

The earthquake, which the U.S. Geological Survey initially reported as magnitude 6.3, was centered on Mauna Loa’s southern flank at a depth of 23 miles (37 kilometers), 1.3 miles (2 kilometers) southwest of Pahala.

“It shook us bad to where it wobbled some knees a little bit,” said Derek Nelson, the manager of the Kona Canoe Club restaurant in the oceanside community of Kona, on the island’s western side. “It shook all the windows in the village.”

Mauna Loa last erupted in late 2022. It’s one of five volcanoes that make up the Big Island, which is the southernmost in the Hawaiian archipelago.

The USGS Interactive Map shows some shaking could be felt in the northeast town of Kailua-Kona, about a 71-mile drive from Pahala. The USGS said it received reports that the earthquake could be felt more than 280 miles away within the first hour, including in Maui and parts of O'ahu. 

No damage was expected to buildings based on the earthquake's intensity. It doesn't appear the earthquake had any impacts on Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

"This earthquake is likely associated with lithospheric flexure caused by the weight of the Hawaiian Islands on the oceanic lithosphere," the USGS said in a statement. 

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 Sarah H

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