HONAUNAU (HawaiiNewsNow) - No tsunami is expected following a magnitude 6.0 earthquake that occurred about seven miles to the east-southeast of Honaunau in the South Kona area of Hawaii Island.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 9:46 p.m. It was centered about 3.7 miles east-southeast of the Honaunau-Napoopoo area along the western flank of Mauna Loa, at a depth of 14 miles.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami was generated by the earthquake.
A second, weaker magnitude 3.2 earthquake occurred six minutes later, just to the northwest of the first about 13 miles beneath the surface.
According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the earthquakes were not directly related to volcanic activity.
“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,” HVO said in a statement.
The USGS also said there have been several more aftershocks, but smaller than magnitude 3. More aftershocks will be possible in the coming days but are unlikely to be large enough to be felt or cause damage.
The HVO also said more than 2,500 residents and visitors submitted felt reports to theUSGS website for the event.
Former Hawaii News Now reporter Lacy Deniz described the violent shaking and damage inside her home in Honaunau on Hawaii Island “like something out of a movie.”
“It was quite terrifying. It was very violent,” Deniz said. “Our house was literally shaking from side to side, and I think the scary part was the duration too. It lasted for quite a long time.”
Source: Drudge Report
