Quake knocks out power across Hawaii

http://news.yahoo.com/news ^ | 9 minutes ago | By GREG SMALL, Associated Press Writer

[ThreePuttinDude]

HONOLULU - A strong earthquake shook Hawaii early Sunday, causing a landslide that blocked a major highway on Hawaii Island and knocking out power across the state, authorities said. Gov. Linda Lingle issued a disaster declaration for the entire state.

The state Civil Defense had unconfirmed reports of injuries, but communication problems prevented more definite reports. People were also trapped in elevators in Oahu, authorities said.

Lingle said in a radio interview with KSSK from Hawaii Island that she had no report of any fatalities. She said boulders fell on highways, rock walls collapsed and television had been knocked off stands.

[RayChuang88]

One of the big worries now is that this earthquake could presage the eruption of the Lo'ihi Seamount, which is an active undersea volcano off the southeast coast of the Big Island. If Lo'ihi does erupt there is a strong fear the seamount could collapse, which could create a tsunami that could affect the entire eastern Pacific Ocean.

[SnarlinCubBear]

If no one's posted this yet, here is a great website about quakes.

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

[Vince Ferrer]

That's certainly the worst case scenario, but wouldn't that be off Hawaii to the southeast somewhat? This looks to be in the opposite direction.

[LasVegasMac]

Interesting, did not know about the fault line.

This is closer to Mauna Loa / Kea than Kilauea.

Is the Lo'ihi Seamount (post 21) also on this fault?

[B Knotts]

They're saying 6.6 now, which is fairly strong, but I cannot recall this much infrastructure damage and apparant panic from a 6.6 in California. People lining up at stores?!?

I guess I thought they'd be more used to this sort of thing in Hawaii. Looks like they haven't had one of this size since 1951, though.

[ThreePuttinDude]

WOW, great site, thanks

[Vince Ferrer]

I don't know if it is on that fault or not, but it seems to be quiet right now through this.

[fish hawk]

I live here on Maui and went through this earthquake and it is no where near a frightening as watching the news on FOX or any of the big networks. No one got killed that we know of and yes there is some damage but not near as much as the first "dirty Bomb" that will be going off soon in America.

[B Knotts]

Correction. They had a 6.6 in 1983.

Here is a page with a lot of background info on previous earthquakes in Hawaii:

EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS

[LasVegasMac]

Right, thanks.

Spent some time there, many years ago. Lots of places that we saw are now covered by Kilauea flows.

[AmericaUnited]

What's happening? Can you login? :)

[kenth]

We need Shep and a case of mascara... STAT!