No tsunami threat following 4.7 earthquake on Hawaiʻi Island

A preliminary magnitude 4.7 earthquake was reported at 12:52 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 about 9 miles south of Fern Forest on the South Flank of the Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a statement saying there was no tsunami expected, however some areas may have experienced shaking.

The quake was widely felt in Hilo, Keaʻau and Pāhoa on Hawaiʻi Island, according to the USGS “Did You Feel It?” website. Nearly 100 responses were recorded after just 10 minutes.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports the earthquake had no apparent impact on either Maunaloa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

“Most earthquakes in this region are caused by abrupt motion of Kīlauea volcano’s south flank, which moves to the southeast over the oceanic crust. The location, depth, and waveforms recorded as part of today’s earthquake are consistent with slip along faults related to the south flank detachment fault,” according to a statement issued by the HVO early this morning.

The HVO reports that aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks.

The quake occurred at a depth of 4 miles below sea level.

The USGS reports that the location of the quake with respect to nearby cities included the following:

• 9.3 mi S of Fern Forest, Hawaiʻi
• 20.7 mi SSW of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiʻi
• 27.5 mi S of Hilo, Hawaiʻi
• 60.5 mi ESE of Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
• 222.8 mi SE of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

*This post will be updated as more information becomes available.