USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2023-12-23T19:18:28-08:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT 

On Saturday, December 23, 4:27 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.1 earthquake occurred 8 mi (13 km) southwest of Volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 17 mi (28 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. A smaller, magnitude-3.4, aftershock occurred in the same region and depth at 4:42 p.m.  

The earthquake is of uncertain origin, but most likely due to bending of the lithosphere beneath Kīlauea volcano. The location just to the northeast of Mauna iki is too far north to be related to Pahala earthquakes and its depth is well below the magma plumbing system within Kīlauea in this region. These earthquakes are not related to the recent activity south and west of Kīlauea and are not expected to lead to any significant changes. 

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

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION 

• Magnitude: 4.1 

• Date and Time: December 23, 2023, at 4:27 p.m. HST 

• Location: 8 mi (13 km) SW of Volcano 

• Depth: 17 mi (28 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: IV - light shaking 

• Instrument-derived: VI - strong shaking 

• Felt Reports: More than 170 within the 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/hv73695052 

• USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes