Home to five active volcanoes, including the world’s largest Mauna Loa.
Earthquake was felt in Honolulu, 300 km away.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred on the 9th (local time) at Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii, the world’s largest active volcano, causing items to fall off shelves and surrounding villages to lose power, but there were no reports of major damage.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred 37km underground on the southern slope of Mauna Loa volcano, and the earthquake did not cause a tsunami.
Derek Nelson, who runs a restaurant on the west coast of the Big Island, said: “Some people had their knees shaking from the strong shaking. “Every window in town shook,” he said.
Hawaii Electric Company spokesman Darren Pai said about 300 customers in the Naalehu area lost power due to the quake.
The earthquake occurred at 10 a.m. local time (5 a.m. on the 10th, Korean time), and a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred in California on the U.S. mainland two hours before the earthquake.
Mauna Loa volcano last erupted in 2022. The Big Island, the southernmost of the Hawaiian Islands, has five active volcanoes.
In Hawaii, earthquakes occur due to various factors, including underground lava flows. Scientists believe that the earthquake occurred on the 9th when the weight of Hawaii Island exerted pressure on the crust and upper mantle.
The 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Kihol Bay, northwest of the Big Island, in 2006 occurred for the same reason. At the time, the earthquake destroyed roads and buildings and even caused a power outage as far as Honolulu on Oahu, 322km to the north.
The seismological observatory said on the 9th that the earthquake had no effect on Mauna Loa or the nearby Kilauea volcano.
Hawaii Volcano Park spokeswoman Jessica Farrakane said there was no damage to roads or the visitor center and that while earthquakes occur frequently, this one was “much stronger.”
The Hawaiian islands have experienced volcanic eruptions for millions of years, with the Big Island experiencing some of the most powerful earthquakes. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher occur every 1.5 years.
The Big Island is the least developed and has many ranches, coffee farms, and resort hotels. There are many small cities, including Hilo, which has a population of 45,000.
The earthquake on the 9th was also felt in Honolulu. Big Island Mayor Mitch Ross, who was receiving a heart exam in Honolulu when the quake struck, said he thought he was shaken by the test.
[호놀룰루=AP/뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.