Explosive Eruptions Continue at Kīlauea, 5.4 Quake Overnight

Events at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped Halema‘uma‘u, shown here in this aerial view, which looks west across the crater. The obvious flat surface (photo center) is the former Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 m (about 300 ft) during the past couple weeks. Ground cracks circumferential to the crater rim can be seen cutting across the parking lot (left) for the former Halema‘uma‘u visitor overlook (closed since 2008). The deepest part of Halema‘uma‘u (foreground) is now about 300 m (1,000 ft) below the crater rim. The Halema‘uma‘u crater rim and walls continue to slump inward and downward with ongoing subsidence at Kīlauea’s summit. PC: US Geological Survey

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaiʻi after a preliminary magnitude 5.4 earthquake reported in the summit region of the Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island at 3:20 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2018.  That according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that an explosive eruption at Kīlauea summit has occurred at around the same time. The resulting ash plume was being carried to the southwest toward Wood Valley, Pāhala and Ocean View.

The US Geological Survey reports that the quake occurred at a depth of 0.5 km and was located: 3.8 mi WSW of Volcano; 23.7 mi WSW of Hawaiian Paradise Park; 25.1 mi SSW of Hilo; 49.2 mi ESE of Kailua-Kona; and 211.7 mi SE of Honolulu.

Since the onset of the recent eruptive activity in May, there have been dozens of seismic events that have prompted statements from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (complete list is compiled below).  The largest earthquake reported in the area was a 6.9 quake, reported on May 4, 2018 on the South Flank of Kīlauea Volcano.

Seismic Activity that Prompted Statements from the PTWC

1. 14 Jun 2018 3:20 a.m. HST 5.4 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
2. 13 Jun 2018 3:40 a.m. HST 5.4 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
3. 12 Jun 2018 1:53 a.m. HST 5.5 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
4. 11 Jun 2018 4:44 a.m. HST 5.4 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
5. 10 Jun 2018 12:51 a.m. HST 5.4 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
6. 9 Jun 2018 4:48 a.m. HST 5.2 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
7. 8 Jun 2018 2:45 a.m. HST 5.5 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
8. 6 Jun 2018 4:07 p.m. HST 5.6 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
9. 6 Jun 2018 10:29 a.m. HST 3.1 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
10. 6 Jun 2018 10:29 a.m. HST 4.1 Ml Off the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island
11. 5 Jun 2018 4:32 a.m. HST 5.6 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
12. 3 Jun 2018 3:51 p.m. HST 5.8 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
13. 1 Jun 2018 1:37 p.m. HST 4.4 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
14. 30 May 2018 10:54 a.m. HST 4.5 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
15. 29 May 2018 1:56 a.m. HST 4.5 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
16. 28 May 2018 5:40 p.m. HST 4.4 Ml In the Hilina Region of Kilauea Volcano
17. 25 May 2018 12:44 p.m. HST 4.4 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
18. 16 May 2018 11:31 a.m. HST 4 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
19. 16 May 2018 8:31 a.m. HST 4.2 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
20. 12 May 2018 11:54 p.m. HST 4.3 Ml Offshore of the Kalapana Region of Kilauea Volcano
21. 11 May 2018 9:25 p.m. HST 4.1 Ml On the South Flank of Kilauea Volcano
22. 6 May 2018 3:26 a.m. HST 4.2 Ml Offshore from Kilauea Volcano
23. 5 May 2018 7:51 p.m. HST 4.1 Ml In the Summit Region of Kilauea Volcano
24. 5 May 2018 6:41 p.m. HST 4.1 Ml In the Saddle Region of the Big Island
25. 4 May 2018 3:20 p.m. HST 4.6 Ml Offshore of the Kalapana Region of Kilauea Volcano
26. 4 May 2018 2:37 p.m. HST 4.9 Ml In the Southwest Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano
27. 4 May 2018 12:33 p.m. HST 6.9 Mwp On the South Flank of Kilauea Volcano
28. 4 May 2018 11:33 a.m. HST 5.6 Ml On the South Flank of Kilauea Volcano