HVO monitoring seismic swarm at Mauna Loa, but says there’s no cause for alarm

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists are monitoring a seismic swarm that’s ongoing beneath the summit of Mauna Loa volcano.

Since 2 a.m. Friday, some 38 small earthquakes ― all magnitude 2.7 or below ― were recorded beneath the summit’s caldera region.

Most of the earthquakes have been in a cluster that’s about 3 miles wide and 1 mile beneath the surface.

Scientists said the quakes could have resulted from changes in the volcano’s magma storage system or from normal re-adjustments.

“Seismic activity beneath Mauna Loa has been gradually increasing over the past two months. Small earthquake swarms are considered a normal part of this increase in activity,” said HVO Scientist-in-Charge Ken Hon.

“Currently there are no indications that magma is moving toward the surface and other monitoring systems are displaying normal behavior.”

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