Hawaii Quake Raises Volcano Concerns

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Hawaii’s Big Island late Friday night, triggering fresh concerns over volcanic activity as experts rushed to assess nearby volcano systems.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake hit at 9:46 p.m. local time near Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo in the South Kona region of Hawaii Island. The quake struck at a depth of around 14 miles along the western flank of Mauna Loa, one of the world’s largest active volcanoes.

Kilauea Volcano Under Urgent Review

Following the quake, scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory began monitoring the nearby Kilauea volcano for signs of increased activity.

According to the USGS, Kilauea has been erupting intermittently since December 2024, and experts had already forecast another eruptive episode between May 24 and May 27 before the earthquake struck.

However, officials stressed there was no immediate evidence linking the earthquake directly to volcanic movement.

“The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes,” the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in an official statement.

Scientists explained that the depth and seismic pattern suggest the quake was caused by stress from the bending of the Pacific oceanic plate beneath the Hawaiian island chain rather than magma movement.

Tremors Felt Across Multiple Islands

The earthquake was felt across Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu, with thousands of residents submitting shaking reports to the USGS within hours.

A smaller 3.2 magnitude aftershock struck just minutes later, raising fears of continued seismic activity. Residents near the epicentre described scenes of chaos as furniture toppled, glass shattered, and homes violently shaken.

One resident in Honaunau wrote online: “Everything is on the floor, major appliances flipped. Pretty wild.”

Former Hawaii News Now reporter Lacy Deniz described the quake as ‘terrifying,’ saying dishes crashed from cabinets while her family shielded a child from falling glass.

No Tsunami Threat Issued

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed that the earthquake was not strong enough to generate a tsunami. Authorities also said there were no immediate reports of deaths or major structural collapses.

Still, emergency officials warned residents to remain alert for aftershocks over the coming days.

According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, several aftershocks had already been recorded shortly after the main quake, though most remained below magnitude 3.

Hawaii’s Long History Of Quakes And Eruptions

Hawaii regularly experiences earthquakes because the islands sit above a volcanic hotspot where tectonic pressure and underground magma movement constantly reshape the region.

One of the most significant recent events occurred in 2018, when a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Big Island during the devastating Kilauea eruption crisis, the strongest quake recorded in Hawaii in more than 40 years.

That eruption destroyed hundreds of homes and forced mass evacuations as lava flows tore through residential communities.

While officials say Friday’s earthquake does not currently appear tied to an imminent eruption, scientists continue monitoring both Kilauea and Mauna Loa around the clock for any signs of changing volcanic conditions.