Hawaii’s Mount Kilauea, the state’s most active volcano, is showing signs of increased unrest, with the number of earthquakes at its summit doubling over the past week, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Seismic activity at the summit has risen from 10 to 20 earthquakes per day, most occurring within the caldera, the volcano’s mouth, and its southern region. Most of these tremors registered below a magnitude of 2.1, according to the USGS.
The unrest extends to Kilauea’s rift zones. The upper Southwest Rift Zone recorded 25 minor earthquakes in the last two days, while the upper East Rift Zone experienced 25 to 60 daily quakes over the same period.
USGS officials attribute the increased activity to magma accumulation beneath the summit, causing the ground to swell. While this signals heightened volcanic activity, the alert level remains at “yellow advisory,” the second tier on the agency’s four-level alert scale.
Despite the unchanged advisory level, the USGS warns of hazardous conditions near the summit, including unstable crater walls, rough terrain, and the potential for rockfalls. Visitors and residents are advised to exercise caution in the area.
Last week, Northern California was rocked by a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake, with the epicenter located just off the coast of Fortuna, according to the US Geological Survey. Initially reported as a 6.6 magnitude quake, it was later upgraded, prompting widespread concern across the region.
The US National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for areas stretching from Davenport, California, to the Douglas County/Lane County line in Oregon. The warning, which affected an estimated 5.3 million California residents, included the entire San Francisco Bay Area. A message sent to residents’ phones urged immediate action: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now.”