Residents on Hawaii's Big Island were jolted on Friday night by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake centered off the west coast, though officials say it didn't generate a tsunami. ABC News reports that the quake struck at 9:46pm local time nearly 4 miles east-southeast of Honaunau-Napoopoo, west of Mauna Loa, according to the US Geological Survey. Shaking was felt widely across the islands. Hawaii News Now reports that a smaller, weaker quake to the northwest of the first took place just a few minutes later, registering a 3.2 magnitude.
Scientists reported no immediate signs of impact to the Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanoes, and the USGS' Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the larger quake wasn't tied to volcanic activity. "The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest that it was caused by stress due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain," the HVO says in a statement.
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said reports have come in of structural damage to homes and other buildings, while rockslides in the South Kona area prompted road crews to clear debris overnight, per ABC. Kona Community Hospital reported minor damage but remained fully operational. About 500 customers of Hawaiian Electric were left without electricity following the quake, with downed utility lines and outages reported in South Kona.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there was no tsunami threat linked to the event. More aftershocks may take place over the next few days, though HNN notes they're "unlikely to be large enough to be felt or cause damage." USA Today notes that Hawaii actually experiences "thousands" of tiny quakes every year, with most people not noticing them.
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