UPDATE: No Tsunami After 6.2 Earthquake off Kau Coast on Big Island, 3 Aftershocks

UPDATED 1:15 pm Sunday:

There is no tsunami expected after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred off the Kaʻū Coast of the Big Island at 11:48 am Sunday.

The US Geological Survey reports the quake occurred at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles), and was located near the following cities:

• 17.3 miles SSE of Nāʻālehu
• 64.1 miles SSE of Kailua-Kona
• 64.2 miles SW of Hawaiian Paradise Park
• 68.6 miles SSW of Hilo
• 228.0 miles SE of Honolulu, Oʻahu

A magnitude 4.3 aftershock occurred at 11:53 a.m., about 3 miles north of the magnitude 6.2 earthquake at a depth of 22 miles. Two smaller aftershocks followed these quakes and other aftershocks are possible and could be felt.

Strong shaking, with a maximum Intensity of VI, has been reported across the Island of Hawai‘i, and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. At that intensity, very slight damage to buildings or structures may have occurred. The USGS “Did you feel it?” service (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) received more than 1,300 felt reports within one hour 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, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) statement.

According to HVO Scientist-in-Charge, Ken Hon, the earthquake had no observable impact on Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes.

“Webcams and other data streams show no impact on the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea except for a few minor rockfalls reported within Halemaʻumaʻu crater,” Hon said. “Please be aware that other aftershocks are possible and may be felt. HVO continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes. The Alert Levels/Color Codes remain at WATCH/ORANGE for Kīlauea and ADVISORY/YELLOW for Mauna Loa at this time.”

For information on recent earthquakes in Hawai‘i and eruption updates, visit the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/earthquakes/.

Volcano updates, photos, maps, and recent earthquake data for Hawaiʻi are posted on the HVO website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo.