Friday, August 23, 2024 A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Big Island of Hawaii on Thursday while officials monitored two rapidly developing storms in the Pacific. The U.
S. Geological Survey reported the temblor occurred at 12:52 a.m.
local time, nine miles south of Fern Forest, a community of about 1,100 people on the southern end of the island. More than 300 people across the Big Island reported feeling the earthquake within the first hour, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Residents on nearby islands also reported the tremor.
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of significant damage, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that the earthquake did not trigger any tsunami threats. The U.S.
Geological Survey stated that the earthquake did not appear to impact the Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanoes. In recent days, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has issued warnings about increased activity at Kilauea, which last erupted on July 3. As seismic activity occurred, officials also tracked a developing storm system and a Category 3 hurricane in the Pacific, both heading toward Hawaii.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported that a system of thunderstorms, located about 1,000 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, had merged and begun to organize. Forecasters expect the system to develop further over the coming days and potentially pass near the Hawaiian Islands late this weekend or early next week. Meanwhile, Hurricane Gilma, situated about 1,000 .