Major Earthquake Strikes Hawaii
Sunday October 15, 2006
Today at 7:07:49 a.m. Hawaii time (approx. 1:08 p.m. eastern time) a major earthquake shook Hawaii. As of 5:00 p.m. eastern time, the U.S. Geological Survey reports that the earthquake registered a 6.6 magnitude on the Richter Scale, up from the original report of a 6.3 magnitude. The U.S. Geological Survey also reports the epicenter to have been approximately 10 miles WSW from Waikoloa Village on Hawaii's Big Island or 157 miles SE from Honolulu, Oahu.
KITV in Honolulu is reporting over 50 aftershocks greater than 1.9 magnitude.
Massive power outages are reported across the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. The Honolulu Fire Department is reporting that people are trapped in elevators in Waikiki and Honolulu.
MSNBC is reporting that 95% of the people and businesses on Oahu are without power. Jose Dizon of Hawaiian Electric has told CNN News that they will slowly begin restarting their generators and power will be slowly restored over the rest of the day. Some customers will begin to see power later this afternoon and they hope to have most power restored by this evening (Hawaii time.)
There are no reports of any tsunami.
Reports are slowly coming in indicating significant damage to numerous structures on the Big Island of Hawaii as well as numerous landslides making passage on many highways impossible.
MSNBC TV reports that there is major structural damage to Kona Community Hospital and some damage to Kohala Hospital. MSNBC reports that the roof of a Walmart has collapsed.
Check here for up-to-date Hotel and Resort Information as it becomes available.
Terry Lewis, wife of the CEO of Kona Community Hospital Reports that long term care patients are being relocated to the Sheraton Keauhou Resort. Other patients are being relocated to Hilo Medical Center. Mrs. Lewis reported that she knows only of minor injuries in the area, but later reports tell of numerous people with broken bones and lacerations.
The Honolulu Advertiser reports that "Big Island Mahor Harry Kim estimated that 3,000 people were being evacuated today from Kona and South Kohala because of the earthquake with most of these evacuees coming from the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel." Kim said the hotels will be closed "indefinitely" because of structural damage"
Kim was also interviewed by KITV in Honolulu and when asked about what he was doing this morning when the earthquake occurred started laughing and told how he and his wife are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary today and planned on spending a quiet day with a drive to the other side of the island for a nice brunch. I guess those plans changed pretty quickly!
Governor Lingle has issued a disaster declaration for the State. The New York Times reports "Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii was on the Big Island, staying at the Mauna Lani Hotel, when the quake rattled the building.
"It shook very strongly and knocked the televisions off the bureaus in the hotel,” she said on KSSK Radio in Hawaii. “TV’s fell, books fell, mirrors fell off the wall.”
"She was being briefed by civil defense officials and planned to fly back to Honolulu." The governor said that the hotel staff were calm during the tremors, but that “guests were shaken up.”
On Maui, the Honoapi'ilani Highway on Highway is closed indefinitely due to boulders which have falled on the highway. The highway is the main connecting road between West Maui and Central Maui.
Wendy Osher, news director of KPOA radio on Maui reported at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time that electricity in Central Maui and Hana have been resorted. The Hana Highway and Iao Valley Roads are closed due to rock slides.
As of 4:00 p.m. eastern time, Honolulu International Airport is open on a limited capacity. All Big Island airports remain closed. Maui airports are operating.
Compounding problems there are flood warnings throughout the islands with heavy rains on Oahu at present.
Hawaii Civil Defense is asking all people to stay at home.
On a somewhat lighter note, MSNBC TV is reporting that the only two Hawaiian Islands with full power are "Lanakai" and "Molokai." Hmmm. I must have always missed the island of "Lanakai." Also, Adam Harju, editor of the Garden Isle News is reporting no damage and no power outages on Kauai.
We'll update this blog as more information is received.
If you live in Hawaii and have any photos of damage, please email them to me at gohawaii.guide@about.com.
Here is a map from the U.S. Geological Survey on Hawaii's Big Island showing earthquake activity. The red refects this morning's activity.
KITV in Honolulu is reporting over 50 aftershocks greater than 1.9 magnitude.
Massive power outages are reported across the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. The Honolulu Fire Department is reporting that people are trapped in elevators in Waikiki and Honolulu.
MSNBC is reporting that 95% of the people and businesses on Oahu are without power. Jose Dizon of Hawaiian Electric has told CNN News that they will slowly begin restarting their generators and power will be slowly restored over the rest of the day. Some customers will begin to see power later this afternoon and they hope to have most power restored by this evening (Hawaii time.)
There are no reports of any tsunami.
Reports are slowly coming in indicating significant damage to numerous structures on the Big Island of Hawaii as well as numerous landslides making passage on many highways impossible.
MSNBC TV reports that there is major structural damage to Kona Community Hospital and some damage to Kohala Hospital. MSNBC reports that the roof of a Walmart has collapsed.
Check here for up-to-date Hotel and Resort Information as it becomes available.
Terry Lewis, wife of the CEO of Kona Community Hospital Reports that long term care patients are being relocated to the Sheraton Keauhou Resort. Other patients are being relocated to Hilo Medical Center. Mrs. Lewis reported that she knows only of minor injuries in the area, but later reports tell of numerous people with broken bones and lacerations.
The Honolulu Advertiser reports that "Big Island Mahor Harry Kim estimated that 3,000 people were being evacuated today from Kona and South Kohala because of the earthquake with most of these evacuees coming from the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel." Kim said the hotels will be closed "indefinitely" because of structural damage"
Kim was also interviewed by KITV in Honolulu and when asked about what he was doing this morning when the earthquake occurred started laughing and told how he and his wife are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary today and planned on spending a quiet day with a drive to the other side of the island for a nice brunch. I guess those plans changed pretty quickly!
Governor Lingle has issued a disaster declaration for the State. The New York Times reports "Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii was on the Big Island, staying at the Mauna Lani Hotel, when the quake rattled the building.
"It shook very strongly and knocked the televisions off the bureaus in the hotel,” she said on KSSK Radio in Hawaii. “TV’s fell, books fell, mirrors fell off the wall.”
"She was being briefed by civil defense officials and planned to fly back to Honolulu." The governor said that the hotel staff were calm during the tremors, but that “guests were shaken up.”
On Maui, the Honoapi'ilani Highway on Highway is closed indefinitely due to boulders which have falled on the highway. The highway is the main connecting road between West Maui and Central Maui.
Wendy Osher, news director of KPOA radio on Maui reported at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time that electricity in Central Maui and Hana have been resorted. The Hana Highway and Iao Valley Roads are closed due to rock slides.
As of 4:00 p.m. eastern time, Honolulu International Airport is open on a limited capacity. All Big Island airports remain closed. Maui airports are operating.
Compounding problems there are flood warnings throughout the islands with heavy rains on Oahu at present.
Hawaii Civil Defense is asking all people to stay at home.
On a somewhat lighter note, MSNBC TV is reporting that the only two Hawaiian Islands with full power are "Lanakai" and "Molokai." Hmmm. I must have always missed the island of "Lanakai." Also, Adam Harju, editor of the Garden Isle News is reporting no damage and no power outages on Kauai.
We'll update this blog as more information is received.
If you live in Hawaii and have any photos of damage, please email them to me at gohawaii.guide@about.com.
Here is a map from the U.S. Geological Survey on Hawaii's Big Island showing earthquake activity. The red refects this morning's activity.
I have some scientific info on this quake .
I have some of the scientific info for this quake on the About Geology site.
Just nice to see some “normal” news coverage of the event. I’m a local boy living abroad, and it’s hard to find any real news.
Thanks, Brad for the nice comment. This is definitely a sad tragedy for the people of the Big Island. Photos I’ve seen on TV and local news reports indicate some serious areas of damage, but, thank God, no apparent loss of life.