USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-09-22T17:24:44+00:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT
U.S. Geological Survey
Sunday, September 22, 2024, 7:27 AM HST (Sunday, September 22, 2024, 17:27 UTC)

On Sunday, September 22 at 6:21 a.m. HST, a magnitude-3.7 earthquake occurred 2.2 mi (3 km) South-southwest of Pahala on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 18.4 mi (30.7 km) below sea level. This earthquake is related to the ongoing swarm of earthquakes that has been going on since 2019 at depth beneath the Pahala area. It has had no impact on the volcanic activity of Kīlauea volcano or the status of Mauna Loa volcano. The recent eruption of Kīlauea remains paused with no resumption of activity as of this morning.

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

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION

Magnitude: 3.7
Date and Time: September 22, 2023, at 6:21 a.m. HST 
Location: 2.2 mi (3 km) South-southwest of Pahala, Island of Hawaiʻi  
Depth: 18.4 mi (30.7 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: - Felt shaking is minor to weak, little or no damage expected.
- Instrument-derived: - Light shaking recorded by seismometers. 
Felt Reports: Over 109 people reported feeling the earthquake within first half hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)  
Felt Area: Widely across the Island of Hawaiʻi  
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: NEIC page for September 22 Pahala Earthquake
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.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

askHVO@usgs.gov

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Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards
Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes