HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT
On Tuesday, February 14, at 9:27 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.8 earthquake occurred 7 mi (12 km) southeast of Pāhala, Island of Hawaiʻi, at a depth of 20 mi (32 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.
This earthquake is part of the seismic swarm under the Pāhala area, which has been going on since 2019. Earthquakes in this region have been observed at least as far back as the 1960s (https://www.usgs.gov/news/volcano-watch-why-do-so-many-deep-earthquakes-happen-around-pahala).
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.
EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION
- Magnitude: 4.8
- Date and time: February 14, 2023, 9:27 p.m. HST
- Location: 7 mi (12 km) southeast of Pāhala, Island of Hawaiʻi
- Depth: 20 mi (32 km) below sea level
- Aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks
EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY AND AFFECTED AREA
- Potential Damage: No damage to buildings or infrastructure expected based on earthquake intensity
- Maximum Modified Mercalli Scale Intensity: V—Moderate shaking (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science/modified-mercalli-intensity-scale)
- Felt Reports: ·More than 75 within first half hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)
- Felt Area: Across the Island of Hawaiʻi
- Visit NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Center website for updated information: https://www.tsunami.gov/
EARTHQUAKE MAPS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- USGS National Earthquake Information Center Maps and Reports for this Event: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv73325052/executive
- USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa.
