Hawaii Island experienced a 5.0-magnitude earthquake on Friday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Around nine in the morning, an earthquake was felt close to Mauna Loa’s southeast flank.
After the earthquake, officials declared that there is no tsunami hazard.
After the major earthquake, the region was shaken by aftershocks.
This occurs at a time when scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are keeping an eye on an increase in seismic activity beneath the summit of the Mauna Loa volcano.
Last week, the Mauna Loa summit backcountry was temporarily closed out of caution due to the increased seismic activity. The area will be closed till further notice, according to HVO.
In a daily update posted on Friday at around 8:30 a.m., HVO scientists said, “Mauna Loa is not erupting and there are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time.”
The report added that Mauna Loa continues to be in “a state of heightened unrest as indicated by increased earthquake activity and inflation of the summit.”
