On Tuesday morning, a magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred just offshore of the Big Island of Hawaii; however, officials indicated that no tsunamis were anticipated as a result of this seismic event.

According to NBC News, the earthquake was recorded at approximately 9:37 a.m. local time (3:37 p.m. Eastern Time) and was situated around 5 miles southeast of the community of Pāhala, off the southern coast of the Big Island, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The office of Governor Josh Green communicated via social media platform X, stating, “A local earthquake has occurred — 4.0 magnitude off the Ka‘u coast of the Big Island.

Shaking may have been felt in some areas, but no tsunami was generated.”

The USGS assessed that the likelihood of damage resulting from the earthquake was minimal. It reported, “No damage to buildings or infrastructure is expected based on earthquake intensity.”

Approximately 40 individuals submitted reports indicating that they had felt the earthquake.

The U.S. Geological Survey classified the seismic event as a magnitude 4.2, indicating a depth of roughly 20 miles beneath the ocean’s surface.

This earthquake transpired amidst a series of smaller quakes in the vicinity over the preceding days, with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 2.3.

The Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island has remained active in recent weeks, with the USGS documenting various phenomena, including eruptions, lava emissions, and steam venting from the Halema’uma’u crater.

The USGS further noted that the earthquake did not appear to have any discernible impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. This region has experienced multiple small earthquakes, which the USGS characterizes as a “seismic swarm,” since 2019.