USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2025-05-20T20:01:01+00:00

On Monday, May 20 at 9:37 a.m. HST, a magnitude-4.2 earthquake occurred 11 mi (18 km) southeast of Pāhala on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 20 mi (32 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

This earthquake is part of the seismic swarm under the Pāhala area, which has been going on since 2019. Earthquakes in this region have been observed at least as far back as the 1960s. See https://www.usgs.gov/news/volcano-watch-why-do-so-many-deep-earthquakes-happen-around-pahala for more information.

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

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION

• Magnitude: 4.2
• Date and Time: May 20, 2025, at 9:37 a.m. HST  
• Location: 11 mi (18 km) southeast of Pāhala, Island of Hawaiʻi   
• Depth: 20 mi (32 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: V - moderate shaking
  • Instrument-derived: IV - light shaking    
• Felt Reports: Over 40 within first half hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)   
• Felt Area: Widely on 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: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv74676927
• USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes