USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2022-11-29T06:11:26-08:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT

On Tuesday, November 29, at 3:27 a.m. HST, a magnitude-4.0 earthquake occurred 6 mi (9 km) east of Pahala, Island of Hawaiʻi, at a depth of 20 mi (32 km) below sea level.  The earthquake is not related to the eruption of Mauna Loa and had no apparent impact on the ongoing eruptions at Mauna Loa and Kīlauea.  

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 (https://www.usgs.gov/news/volcano-watch-why-do-so-many-deep-earthquakes-happen-around-pahala). 

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

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION   

• Magnitude: 4.0  
• Date and time: Tuesday, November 29, 3:27 a.m. HST     
• Location: 6 mi (9 km) east 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 Modified Mercalli Scale Intensity: IV—light shaking (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science/modified-mercalli-intensity-scale)     
• Felt Reports: More than 50 within first hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)  
• Felt Area: 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/hv73244837/executive 
• USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes