COURTESY USGS
The star on this U.S. Geological Survey map shows the location of the magnitude 6.0 earthquake on the western flank of Hawaii island tonight.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the western flank of Mauna Loa on Hawaii island Friday night but did not generate a tsunami, officials said.
The quake struck at 9:46 p.m. and was centered about 7 miles south of Honaunau-Napoopoo and 22 miles south-southeast of Kailua-Kona, at a depth of 14 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was initially listed as a magnitude 5.9 but later upgraded by USGS to 6.0.
The Hawaii Police Department advised drivers to avoid Napoopoo Road due to large rocks and debris that fell as a result of the quake. Police closed both lanes between the 10-mile marker and Middle Keei Road so crews could clear the road.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake did not generate a tsunami but that some areas may have felt strong shaking.
“The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanoes,” USGS scientists said in a statement.
“The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest that it was caused by stress due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain; the earthquake was not directly related to volcanic processes,” the statement said. “Strong to very strong shaking was reported on the west side of the Island of Hawaii during the earthquake that happened this evening and could have resulted in light to moderate damage to infrastructure.”
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USGS encouraged the public to report any damage to the County of Hawaii Civil Defense Agency.
Several small aftershocks occurred after the initial earthquake including a magnitude 3.2 quake that hit the same area at about 9:52 p.m. Scientists said aftershocks may continue in the coming days but are unlikely to be large enough to be felt or cause damage.
The main quake was felt across the state, including on Kauai, Oahu and Maui.
The USGS’ “Did you feel it?” self-reported online survey for the quake recorded over 2,600 responses within an hour, mostly from the Big Island but also from Kapaa, Lahaina, Mililani, Kaunakakai, Lanai City and many other locations across the state.
A magnitude 6 earthquake is considered “strong” with “light” property damage possible, according to USGS.
