Maui earthquake….HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT U.S. Geological Survey Thursday, December 19, 2024

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT

On Thursday, December 19, 8:44 p.m. HST, a magnitude-3.7 earthquake occurred near the village of Hana on the Island of Maui at a depth of 6.2 mi (10 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes on the Island of Hawaiʻi.

The earthquake was widely felt on Maui, Island of Hawai‘i, and Moloka‘i. Earthquakes in this region are not common but have occurred occasionally. These earthquakes are caused by bending of the crust beneath the islands and associated adjustments related to the weight of the islands.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION

• Magnitude: 3.7
• Date and Time: December 19, 2024, at 8:44 p.m. HST
• Location: 1.2 mi (2 km) east of Hana, Maui
• Depth: 6.2 mi (10 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 Intensity, Modified Mercalli Scale (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science/modified-mercalli-intensity-scale)
• Community-reported: III – weak shaking
• Instrument-derived: — – n/a shaking
• Felt Reports: More than 170 within the first 30 minutes (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)
• Felt Area: Widely felt on Maui and a few felt reports from Moloka‘i and the Island of Hawai‘i
• 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/hv74555032
• 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.