Magnitude 6 earthquake jolts Hawaii's Big Island; USGS monitors Kilauea volcano
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Hawaii's Big Island, with the USGS assessing impact on the active Kilauea volcano. Initial reports of structural damage came from Hilo and Kona districts. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami advisory.
A shallow magnitude 6 earthquake struck Hawaii's Big Island in the early morning local time. The US Geological Survey (USGS) located the epicentre about 18 kilometres southeast of the Kilauea volcanic complex and has deployed additional monitoring stations to assess any impact on volcanic activity given the proximity to the active caldera.
Ken Hon, scientist-in-charge at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said in an initial statement that 'we have observed instantaneous changes in magma chamber pressure, but no significant increase in surface eruption risk has been detected so far'. Hilo and Kona county authorities reported limited damage from cracks in local infrastructure and falling objects. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed the earthquake was not of a magnitude likely to trigger a tsunami.
Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke said state emergency response teams were reviewing evacuation protocols around the Kilauea visitor centre. Volcanic activity monitoring data over the next 72 hours will be critical; tourism revenue accounts for roughly 21 per cent of the state's USD 18.2 billion annual economy, making any extended visitor-access restrictions consequential.
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