The U.S. Geological Surveys Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded an offshore magnitude-4.2 earthquake south of the Big Island at 4:33 a.m. Thursday.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded an offshore magnitude-4.2 earthquake south of the Big Island at 4:33 a.m. Thursday.
The earthquake was centered about 35 miles southeast of Pahala, at a depth of 29 miles.
Weak shaking has been reported around the island, but no damage was reported.
According to Brian Shiro, HVO’s seismic network manager, the earthquake was located six miles south of the summit of Lo‘ihi seamount, but does not appear to be associated with the submarine volcano.
“The earthquake was most likely due to bending of the Earth’s crust under the weight of Hawaii Island,” Shiro said.
Lo‘ihi is an active submarine volcano located on the seafloor south of Kilauea about 19 miles off the southeast coast of the Big Island.
The seamount is 3,180 feet below sea level.
It last erupted in 1996.
