On Friday, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 struck the area just south of Hawaii's Big Island, as confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The seismic event occurred at 10:06 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located slightly over 4 miles southeast of Naalehu. The depth of the earthquake was recorded at 6 miles, according to USGS information.
Residents of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, approximately 200 miles north of the epicenter, reported feeling the tremors. Immediate reports on serious injuries or significant structural damage were not available at the time.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a statement confirming that there is no tsunami threat following the earthquake. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency took to X to communicate that "many areas may have experienced strong shaking" as a result of the quake, which took place shortly after 10 a.m. local time, while also confirming the absence of a tsunami risk.
Mitch Roth, the Mayor of Big Island, experienced the earthquake firsthand while in Honolulu for a medical appointment. Describing his initial confusion.
"All of a sudden I felt like I was getting dizzy," he said acoording to AP, before realizing the shaking was due to the earthquake. Roth immediately contacted emergency management officials to assess the situation.
Expectations of damage reports are anticipated within the next couple of hours, as Roth noted, "It was a good-sized earthquake." He reassured that, based on the information he received, there is no threat of a tsunami. The Mayor also mentioned his plans to return to the Big Island as soon as possible by catching an earlier flight from Honolulu.
In the town of Pahala, Julia Neal, who owns Pahala Plantation Cottages, recounted her experience of the quake's forceful shaking causing a mirror and brass lamp to fall. She described the impact on the area's historic wooden plantation homes, noting, "They were rattling pretty loudly."
