(ABOVE PHOTO) Screen capture from the USGS HVO webpage showing the location of Sunday’s earthquake near Na’alehu

NEWS BRIEFS

• A magnitude-4.0 earthquake struck 7 miles north of Na’alehu at 6:43 p.m., HST on Sunday, October 12.
• USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says only weak shaking was reported around the epicenter. Damage to buildings or structures was not expected.

PRIMARY SOURCES

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) recorded a magnitude-4.0 earthquake located in the Ka‘ū District of the Island of Hawai‘i on Sunday, October 12, at 6:43 p.m., HST.

According to Wes Thelen, HVO’s Seismic Network Manager, this earthquake was centered about 11 km (7 mi) north of Nā‘ālehu at a depth of 5.4 km (3.4 mi). A map showing its location is posted on the HVO website at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/.

The earthquake was felt on the south part of the Island of Hawaiʻi. The USGS “Did you feel it?” Web site (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/) received around 20 felt reports, mostly from the Nā‘ālehu area, within an hour of the earthquake. Only weak shaking (Intensity III) has been reported around the epicenter. At these shaking intensities, damage to buildings or structures is not expected.

No aftershocks of the magnitude-4.0 earthquake have been recorded as of 9:30 p.m.

Over the past 50 years, the area north of Na`alehu has experienced 8 earthquakes, including today’s event, with magnitudes greater than 4.0 and at depths of 0–10 km (0–6.2 mi).

The earthquake caused no detectable changes in Kīlauea Volcano’s ongoing eruption or on Mauna Loa and other active volcanoes on the Island of Hawaiʻi.

This event is a reminder for Hawaii residents to be prepared for earthquakes. The 2nd annual Great Hawaii Shakeout, scheduled for 10:16 a.m. on October 16, 2014, is an opportunity for people throughout the State to practice “Drop! Cover! Hold On!”—actions that are proven to reduce injury in an earthquake. For details, please visit shakeout.org/hawaii/.

For information on recent earthquakes in Hawaii and eruption updates, visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at hvo.wr.usgs.gov. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Oct. 12