Four earthquakes strike Big Island – Tropical Storm Darby expected to weaken

July 2016 – HAWAII – Four earthquakes hit Hawaii Island on Friday and late Thursday, three in the area of Kilauea Volcano. A fourth quake, at magnitude-4.3, struck the island at 9:16 p.m. Friday. The epicenter was 1.9 miles west-southwest of Honalo, a bit north of Kealakekua Bay, at a depth of 7 miles. The first, with a magnitude of 2.5, hit 3.7 miles southwest of Volcano at a depth of 1.9 miles. It happened at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The second, magnitude-2.7, had an epicenter 9 miles southeast of Volcano. It struck at 11:18 a.m. Friday at a depth of 3.3 miles.

The third, magnitude-3, struck at 12:14 p.m. 6 miles southeast of Leilani Estates, in the ocean south of Cape Kumukahi. The depth of the epicenter was 20 miles. Meanwhile, the 61G lava flow extending southeast of Puu Oo remained active today, with the leading edge about a half-mile from the ocean. The lava lake at Halemaumau Crater continued to circulate and intermittently spatter, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.  –Star Advertiser

Tropical Storm Darby to weaken: Hawaii emergency officials say no severe damage or injuries have been reported from a tropical storm churning off the coast. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Mary Zanakis said Sunday that the entire state is under a tropical storm warning except the Big Island, which got hit Saturday. That means strong wind and heavy rain are imminent.

She says Tropical Storm Darby, which is about 40 miles south of Honolulu, has toppled some trees and caused some localized flooding. Several shelters have opened statewide for residents who may need them. Surf could be up to 12 feet high on the east side of Maui and be powerful on the other islands, too. The storm is forecast to weaken Monday.  –Herald Courier