Hawaii Island Hit by Magnitude 6.0 Quake as Falling Rocks Close Road, No Tsunami Threat
Updated
Updated · Honolulu Star-Advertiser · May 23
Hawaii Island Hit by Magnitude 6.0 Quake as Falling Rocks Close Road, No Tsunami Threat
11 articles · Updated · Honolulu Star-Advertiser · May 23
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Hawaii Island at 9:46 p.m. on Mauna Loa’s western flank, with shaking felt statewide but no tsunami generated.
USGS said the 14-mile-deep quake was caused by oceanic plate bending under the Hawaiian island chain’s weight, not by Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanic activity.
Napoopoo Road was closed between the 10-mile marker and Middle Keei Road after large rocks and debris fell onto both lanes, while officials warned of possible light to moderate infrastructure damage.
A magnitude 3.2 aftershock hit the same area about six minutes later, and scientists said more aftershocks may continue in coming days but are unlikely to be damaging.
More than 2,600 people reported feeling the quake within an hour, including on Kauai, Oahu and Maui, underscoring how widely the strong event was felt across Hawaii.
Hawaii's deep 6.0 quake was not volcanic, but could it awaken the island's sleeping giants?
What do the deep tremors that shook Hawaii reveal about the immense forces building the islands from below?