A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck just off Hawaii Island on Friday morning, producing strong shaking across the state. No tsunami is expected, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake — which happened about 10:06 a.m. — was located about 1.5 miles southwest of Pahala. It was reportedly at a depth of 6 miles. Officials first put the quake’s magnitude at 6.3, but then lowered it to 5.7.
There have also been at least six small quakes, apparently aftershocks, in the Pahala area.
The agency cataloged the large quake’s intensity as VI, which means people felt strong shaking but the damage is not expected to be significant.
Residents on the Big Island say they felt strong shaking and that items jumped off their shelves and pictures fell from walls. The temblor was also felt on Oahu; many said they felt it.
The quake comes amid a period of increased seismicity on Hawaii Island linked to Kilauea.
“I was sitting in my truck and I thought there was something wrong with my truck,” said Hawaii Island community leader Ikaika Marzo. “A bunch of people felt it around me.”
Alia Zannoni works at International Marketplace and said she saw computer screens and pictures shaking. “We didn’t know what to do so we sat in our doorways,” she said. “My family on Kauai said they felt it, too.”
