A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 hit the Big Island yesterday. Though earthquakes are not uncommon on the Big Island, the epicenter of this one was the largest one to hit the area in over 50 years. Per the Star Bulletin, the center of the quake was at “Kilauea’s upper east rift near the extinct Puhimau Crater, about a mile southeast of Crater Rim Drive, which circles Kilauea’s 3-mile-wide caldera.”
According to the Star Bulletin, the earthquake was felt as far as 55 miles away in South Kohala on the other side of the island. Fortunately no damage or injuries were reported.
Sheila Beal
