This is a Civil Defense message for 1:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reports the earthquake that occurred at approximately 12:55 a.m. was not large enough to cause a tsunami for the island of Hawaii.

Preliminary data indicates that the earthquake measuring a magnitude of 5.3 was centered in the vicinity near Kilauea volcano.

As in all earthquakes, be aware of the possibility of after shocks. If the earthquake was strongly felt in your area, precautionary checks should be made for any damages; especially to utility connections of gas, water, and electricity.

Please report any damage to Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.

More info on this quake by the USGS/Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

The epicenter of the early morning Wednesday, March 13, 2019 earthquake.

The seismic waveform of the March 13, 2019 earthquake measured at the Volcano Golf Course by the USGS.

TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 1
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
1259 AM HST WED MAR 13 2019

TO – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT – LOCAL TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT

THIS STATEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NO ACTION REQUIRED.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME – 1255 AM HST 13 MAR 2019
COORDINATES – 19.3 NORTH 155.2 WEST
LOCATION – IN THE HILINA REGION OF KILAUEA VOLCANO
MAGNITUDE – 5.3

EVALUATION

NO TSUNAMI IS EXPECTED. REPEAT. NO TSUNAMI IS EXPECTED.
HOWEVER…SOME AREAS MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED STRONG SHAKING.

THIS WILL BE THE ONLY STATEMENT ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS
ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED.

USGS: How large does an earthquake have to be to cause a tsunami?

Magnitudes below 6.5
Earthquakes of this magnitude are very unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Magnitudes between 6.5 and 7.5
Earthquakes of this size do not usually produce destructive tsunamis. However, small sea level changes may be observed in the vicinity of the epicenter. Tsunamis capable of producing damage or casualties are rare in this magnitude range but have occurred due to secondary effects such as landslides or submarine slumps.

Magnitudes between 7.6 and 7.8
Earthquakes of this size may produce destructive tsunamis especially near the epicenter; at greater distances small sea level changes may be observed. Tsunamis capable of producing damage at great distances are rare in the magnitude range.

Magnitude 7.9 and greater
Destructive local tsunamis are possible near the epicenter, and significant sea level changes and damage may occur in a broader region.

Note that with a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the probability of an aftershock with a magnitude exceeding 7.5 is not negligible. To date, the largest aftershock recorded has been magnitude 7.1 that did not produce a damaging tsunami.