4.5 magnitude earthquake recorded north of Naalehu
No changes were detected in Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing eruptions or any of the other active volcanoes on the Big Island after a 4.5 magnitude earthquake was reported north of Naalehu Saturday morning, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
The quake was reported at 2:18 a.m. and centered about five miles north of Naalehu in the Kau District and six miles deep, according to Wes Thelen, the observatory’s Seismic Network Manager.
Three aftershocks, magnitudes 1.6, 1.5, 1.4, were recorded at 3:30 a.m.
The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest a source on the large fault plane between the old ocean floor and overlying volcanic crust, a common source for earthquakes in this area, scientists said.