No Tsunami After 5+ Earthquake Hualalai, Hawaii

PC: Hawai’i Volcanoes Observatory. USGS

There is no tsunami expected after a 5.3 (preliminary magnitude 5.5) earthquake in the Hualalai region of the Big Island at 5:09 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

Preliminary data indicates that the quake occurred at a depth of 16 km and the epicenter was 6.6 miles SE of Puuanahulu, Hawaii.

About 11 minutes later at 5:20 p.m., a second quake measuring 3.0 in magnitude was reported 2.2 miles S of Puuanahulu, Hawaii.

The HVO reports that there were a total of three aftershocks that were recorded within an hour of the earthquake.

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reports that authorities were responding to reports of rockfalls along Highways 19 and 11.

The earthquake has caused no detectable changes in activity at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, according to the HVO.

“Although the earthquake occurred under the east margin of Hualālai volcano, there is no indication at this time that the event is related to volcanic activity,” said geophysicist Brian Shiro, HVO’s seismic network manager. “The location and depth of this event suggest it is likely related to flexure or settling of the crust beneath the weight of the island.”

Below is information provided by the USGS.

Event type: Earthquake
Region: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
Geographic coordinates: 19.741N, 155.785W
Magnitude: 5.2
Depth: 16 km
Universal Time (UTC): 14 Apr 2019 03:09:03
Time near the Epicenter: 13 Apr 2019 17:09:03
Local standard time in your area: 13 Apr 2019 17:09:03

Location with respect to nearby cities:
10.6 km (6.6 mi) SE of Puuanahulu, Hawaii
25.1 km (15.6 mi) ENE of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
72.7 km (45.1 mi) W of Hilo, Hawaii
86.6 km (53.7 mi) W of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaii
277.2 km (171.9 mi) SE of Honolulu, Hawaii

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