Summit Region News Today

Two 3+ magnitude earthquakes on Hawaiʻi island that occurred within a minute of each other on Friday night are not likely related to one another, according to scientists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

There is no tsunami following a 4.4 (4.2 preliminary) magnitude earthquake reported at 5:17 p.m. in the Summit Region of the Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island.

Inflation at the summit of the Big Island volcano also remains at about its highest level in more than 5 years, returning to nearly the level seen just before the last eruption Sept. 10, which lasted less than a week.

Steady rates of quakes have continued in an area south of the Big Island volcano’s caldera since Aug. 22 and recent tiltmeter data suggest the area is inflating.

Signs of elevated unrest are ongoing at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Scientists explain why the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said during the initial state of the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption was within the caldera although people in Kona could see lava descending the western flank of the mountain.