No Tsunami Threat After 4+ Hawaiʻi Quake

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaiʻi following a 4.5 (preliminary magnitude 4.4) earthquake reported at 4:42 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 offshore of Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center say there is no tsunami expected, however some areas may have experienced shaking.

The earthquake was centered about 4 miles east of Papa‘ikou at a depth of 42 km (26 mi), according to the HVO.  The USGS reports that the quake was centered: 6.5 miles E of Pepeʻekeo, Hawaiʻi; 9.7 miles NNE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi; 17.6 miles N of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiʻi; 65.9 miles ENE of Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi; and 209.7 miles ESE of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

The USGS “Did you feel it?” service received over 280 felt reports within an hour and a half of the earthquake.

“The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest a source due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain, a common source for earthquakes in this area. Aftershocks are possible and could be felt,” according to scientists with the HVO.

HVO seismic network manager Brian Shiro said HVO monitoring networks have not detected any significant changes in activity on Kīlauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes due to the earthquake.

PC: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory