HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT U.S. Geological Survey Thursday, July 13, 2023, 1:31 PM HST
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, July 13, 2023, 1:31 PM HST (Thursday, July 13, 2023, 23:31 UTC)
On Thursday, July 13, 11:29 a.m. HST, a magnitude-4.6 earthquake occurred 55 mi (88 km) north-northeast of Pa‘auilo on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 15 mi (24 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.
Deep earthquakes north of the Island of Hawaiʻi are typically the result of bending the oceanic crust and underlying brittle mantle due to the weight of the islands. This earthquake fits the pattern of past earthquakes related to bending of the oceanic lithosphere.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.
EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION
- Magnitude: 4.6
- Date and Time: July 13, 2023, at 11:29 a.m. HST
- Location: 55 mi (88 km) NNE of Pa‘auilo
- Depth: 15 mi (24 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: IV – light shaking
- Instrument-derived: — – n/a shaking
- Felt Reports: More than 71 within the first hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)
- Felt Area: Northern facing coasts on Island of Hawaiʻi and Maui
- 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/hv73480807
- 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.
