USGS Upgrades Hawaii Earthquake to 6.0, No Tsunami Threat
A hawaii earthquake struck the western flank of Mauna Loa on Hawaii island at 9:46 p.m. Friday, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it did not generate a tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey later upgraded the quake from magnitude 5.9 to 6.0.
Police in Hawaii told drivers to avoid Napoopoo Road after large rocks and debris fell, and officers closed both lanes between the 10-mile marker and Middle Keei Road so crews could clear it.
Mauna Loa and Kilauea
USGS scientists said, "The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanoes," and said the quake was not directly related to volcanic processes. They said the depth, location, and recorded seismic waves pointed to stress from bending of the oceanic plate under the weight of the Hawaiian island chain.
The quake was centered about 7 miles south of Honaunau-Napoopoo and 22 miles south-southeast of Kailua-Kona at a depth of 14 miles. USGS said a magnitude 6 earthquake is considered strong and light property damage is possible.
Shaking Across Hawaii
USGS scientists 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." The main quake was felt across the state, including on Kauai, Oahu and Maui, and the USGS Did you feel it? survey recorded over 2,600 responses within an hour.
A magnitude 3.2 aftershock hit the same area about 9:52 p.m., after several small aftershocks followed the first quake. Scientists said more aftershocks may continue in the coming days, but they are unlikely to be large enough to be felt or cause damage.
Hawaii Island Roads
The road closure gave residents and drivers the clearest immediate disruption from the quake: Napoopoo Road was shut in both directions while crews cleared debris. With no tsunami threat and no apparent impact on the volcanoes, the practical issue on Hawaii island shifted to road safety and scattered shaking-related damage along the west side.
