Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Hits Hawaii Island, Shakes State; No Tsunami Warning Issued

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the South Kona area of Hawaii Island on Friday night, rattling homes and businesses across the state but producing no tsunami, officials said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 9:46 p.m. about 3.7 miles east-southeast of Honaunau-Napoopoo, on the western flank of Mauna Loa, at a depth of 14 miles. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later confirmed that no tsunami was generated.

A second, weaker magnitude 3.2 quake followed six minutes later just northwest of the first event, about 13 miles below the surface. The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the earthquakes were not directly tied to volcanic activity. Instead, scientists said the depth, location and seismic signals suggest the shaking was caused by stress from the bending of the oceanic plate under the weight of the Hawaiian Islands.

The USGS reported several aftershocks, all smaller than magnitude 3, and said additional minor aftershocks were possible in the coming days. Officials said they were unlikely to be strong enough to cause damage or be widely felt.

Reports of intense shaking poured in from across the islands. By 11 p.m. Friday, more than 2,500 people had submitted “felt” reports to the USGS website, and that total climbed to more than 5,800 by 2 a.m. Saturday. Residents on Hawaii Island described violent, prolonged shaking, with some saying furniture toppled, glass broke and cabinets flew open. Former Hawaii News Now reporter Lacy Deniz, who was at home in Honaunau, said the quake felt “very violent” and lasted long enough to intensify the fear. She said her family rushed outside and, while no one was seriously injured, the home sustained significant damage, including broken glass, cracked plumbing fixtures and fallen shelves and drawers.

The shaking was felt statewide, according to Hawaii News Now. Residents on Kauai reported strong shaking in Omao and Hanalei, while people on Oahu felt it in Kailua, Ewa Beach and Kapolei. Reports also came from Makawao and Wailuku on Maui, showing the wide reach of the quake across the Hawaiian Islands.

The USGS said the South Kona event was part of a region with a history of significant earthquakes. In the past 50 years, there have been 35 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or greater within 60 miles of Friday’s quake. Historical events include the magnitude 7.7 Kalapana earthquake in November 1975, which caused a tsunami, killed two people, injured 28 and inflicted millions of dollars in damage. Another major event, the magnitude 6.7 Kiholo Bay earthquake in October 2006, was felt statewide and caused road damage, landslides, minor injuries and damage to more than 1,000 buildings. Geologists said that quake, like Friday’s, was a deep lithospheric event caused by the weight of the islands.