Earthquake Swarm Hits Hawaii, Another Paroxysmal Eruption Of Etna Volcano In Italy

Earthquake swarm at Loihi underwater Hawaii volcano shakes Big Island

Strange Sounds

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the magnitude-4.0 quake Wednesday night was located under Loihi seamount, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of the Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. It occurred at a depth of 7 miles (11 km).

USGS officials said moderate shaking could be felt across the Big Island but at that intensity no significant damage was expected. The earthquake did not generate a tsunami and it had no apparent effect on nearby Kilauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes.

“We see no detectable changes in activity at the summits or along the rift zones of Loihi, Kilauea or Mauna Loa as a result of this earthquake,” said Ken Hon, head scientist at the USGS’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. “Aftershocks are possible and could be felt.”

Here a list of the sequence of earthquakes:

M4.0 – 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
M2.9 – 47 km SE of Naalehu, Hawaii
M3.1 – 47 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
M2.8 – 45 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
M2.9 – 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii

Kilauea is among the world’s most active volcanoes and Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on Earth. Both are located on the Big Island.

Another paroxysmal eruption of Etna Volcano in Italy sends thick plume of ash and gas several kilometers in the air (video and photos)

 Strange Sounds

Sicily’s Mount Etna erupted again on Wednesday, producing lava flows and sending up plumes of ash several kilometers into the air from the volcano’s southeast crater.

The volcano produced yet another lava-fountaining episode or paroxysm from the new SE crater on June 2th morning, with no more than three days since the previous explosion.

Volcanic tremor began to increase around 8 am. There wer followed by an onset of weak strombolian explosions at the new SE crater’s saddle vent around 9:45 am.

After a first slow activity phase, the paroxysmal eruption reached its maximum intensity around 10:30 local time, generating 300/400-meter-high lava fountains and a plume of gas and ash that rose several kilometers in the air and drifted east-southeast.

he paroxysm also ejected lava that flowed along the southwest flank of the volcano. Ash and small lapilli (up to 1.0-1.5 cm) fell the town of Santa Venerina.