Magnitude-5.2 earthquake off Hamakua coast is felt as far away as Kauai
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
A preliminary magnitude 5.0 quake struck off the coast of the Big Island troday. No tsunami is expected.
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 struck off the Hamakua coast of the Big Island this afternoon. However, no tsunami is expected.
The quake struck 7.8 miles north-northwest of Kukuihaele on the Big Island at 1:43 p.m. at a depth of 16.7 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Although no tsunami is expected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also said that some areas may have experienced shaking.
Strong shaking was reported by residents across the districts of Kohala, according to the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. About 1,100 reports were filed on the agency’s “Did You Feel It?” webpage by respondents from as far away as Kauai.
“This earthquake is related to stress from the weight of the island on the underlying ocean crust and mantle,” HVO Scientist-in-Charge, Ken Hon said in a statement. However, he also pointed out that “these earthquakes are relatively common and not directly related to volcanic processes.”
The strongest previous earthquake was the magnitude-4.2 temblor on Oct. 30, 2010, which was located 4 miles east of Kukuihaele at a depth of 21 miles, the HVO said.
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No serious injuries were immediately reported.
