Massive quake, eruptions prompts state of emergency on Big Island
Tuesday, May 1st 2018, 5:01 pm EDT
Friday, May 4th 2018, 11:19 pm EDT
By HNN Staff

PUNA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Just an hour after a large tremor Friday morning, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the Big Island on Friday afternoon, sending people fleeing from buildings and community centers and increasing concerns about new eruptions in Puna's Leilani Estates.

The temblor was the largest in Hawaii since 1975, and did generate small tsunami waves around the Big Island, triggering sea fluctuations that ranged from 8 inches in Hilo to 16 inches at Kapoho, Hawaii County Civil Defense said.

Dr. Charles McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, said the small tsunami waves did not pose any threat but underscore the importance of vigilance as the Kilauea eruptions continue.

The latest quake happened about 12:30 p.m., and was centered on the south flank of Kilauea, about 16 kilometers southwest of Leilani Estates and at a depth of 5 kilometers, the USGS said.

After the quake, about 14,000 customers lost power in Kaumana, Hilo and Puna. Power has since been restored.

The temblor came about an hour after a 5.4 magnitude shook the Big Island on Friday morning, which was followed by a fifth eruption spewing lava into Leilani Estates.

The temblor at about 11:30 a.m. was also centered near the south flank of Kilauea — about 18 kilometers southwest of Leilani Estates, the USGS reported. Neither of the quakes generated tsunami, but they were both felt across the Big Island from Hilo to Kona and as far away as Oahu.

The quakes added to an already busy day for the Big Island, which is now grappling with six separate fissures in Leilani Estates.

On Friday morning, authorities said the situation in the Puna subdivision continues to get more dire.

And Hawaii County Civil Defense authorities have issued this ominous warning to households that choose not to heed mandatory orders to leave: "First responders may not be able to come to the aid of residents who refuse to evacuate."

The six eruptions, the latest of which started just five minutes after the large quake, are threatening several homes — and authorities have confirmed that at least two structures have sustained significant damage.

Dramatic images from the subdivision show lava bubbling up from the ground and soaring more than 100 feet in the air. Residents described the sound of the eruptions as haunting — "hissing" and "like a freight train."

So far, oofficials have confirmed breakouts on Mohala Street, Kaupili Street, Makamae Street and near Kahukai Street and Leilani Avenue.

Civil Defense said all Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivision residents are required to evacuate immediately.

In a news conference, Mayor Harry Kim said though the eruptions are mainly affecting this particular region of Puna, surrounding areas should also be on alert. "In regards to activity of lava itself, yes, we’re gonna monitor it very carefully and be ready to evacuate or identify different areas," Kim said.

In addition to the large quake, the Big Island continues to get rattle by smaller tremors.

Resident Ikaika Marzo said he could feel several quakes shake the area in the early morning hours before the second eruption around 1:30 a.m.

The new eruptions Friday come in the wake of the volcano's first fissure in the community on Thursday afternoon.

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