USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2025-11-26T10:03:16+00:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT

On Tuesday, November 25, 11:49 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.6 earthquake occurred 9 mi (15 km) south-southeast of Fern Forest on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 3 mi (5 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. The event followed the end of episode 37 lava fountaining on Kīlauea by 10 minutes, but does not appear directly related to the eruption. Most earthquakes in this region are caused by movement of the south flank of Kīlauea. The location, depth, and waveforms recorded as part of today's earthquake are consistent with slip along south flank faults. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.
 

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION
•    Magnitude: 4.6
•    Date and Time: November 25, 2025, at 11:49 p.m. HST
•    Location: 9 mi (15 km) SSE of Fern Forest
•    Depth: 3 mi (5 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: -- - n/a shaking
•    Felt Reports: More than 200 within the first hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)
•    Felt Area: Felt 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: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv74837442
•    USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes