2006 Hawaii earthquake

2006 Hawaii earthquake
Hilo
Honolulu
Date October 15, 2006 (2006-10-15)
Origin time 17:07:49 UTC [1]
Magnitude 6.7 Mw [1]
Depth 29 kilometers (18 mi) [1]
Epicenter 19°53′N 156°04′W / 19.89°N 156.07°W / 19.89; -156.07Coordinates: 19°53′N 156°04′W / 19.89°N 156.07°W / 19.89; -156.07 [1]
Areas affected Hawaii, United States
Max. intensity VIII (Severe)
Tsunami Yes
Aftershocks 6.1 Mw Oct 15 at 17:14 UTC [1]
Casualties None [2]

The 2006 Hawaii earthquake occurred on Sunday October 15 at 7:07:49 AM local time with a moment magnitude of 6.7 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The shock was centered 21 kilometers (13 mi) southwest of Puakō and 21 km (13 mi) north of Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi, just offshore of the Kona Airport, at a depth of 29 km (18 mi). It produced several aftershocks, including one that measured a magnitude of 6.1 seven minutes after the main shock. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center measured a small, nondestructive tsunami of 4 in (100 mm) on the coast of the Big Island.[3]

Earthquake

Modified Mercalli Intensities were VII–VIII (Very Strong–Severe) on the western side of the island of Hawaii, and VI (Strong) on the eastern side of Maui. Intensity V (Moderate) shaking was felt all the way to Oahu, where patches of moderate damage were reported.[4] The earthquake caused property damage, injuries, landslides, power outages, and airport delays and closures.[3] Governor Linda Lingle issued a disaster declaration for the entire state.[5][6]

Damage

USGS ShakeMap for the event

The most severe damage caused by the earthquake was focused on the north and western sides of the island of Hawaii. Damage was also quite heavy on the eastern side of Maui, and minor damage spread all the way out to western Oahu, 170 miles (270 km) away from the earthquake's epicenter. On the Big Island, many houses had large cracks and broken windows, and at least 61 buildings were destroyed and red-tagged by officials. Almost all houses in west Hawaii reported extensive internal damage but most avoided significant structural damage, the reason being that most of the buildings in the area around the epicenter of the earthquake have been built in the last few decades and are well constructed. Even so, over $200 million in damage occurred.[7]

The largest and most luxurious hotels on the Island of Hawaii also happened to be clustered within ten miles (16 km) of the earthquake's epicenter along the Kohala coast. The 1965 Mauna Kea Beach Hotel had its entire south end collapse, and the hotel's top floor was considered "destroyed." The hotel closed December 1 after a month-long inspection revealed that the building was unsafe and in danger of collapse. After a $150 million renovation, the hotel reopened in December, 2008.[8][9] The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel was temporarily evacuated after the earthquake due to structural damage, broken glass and flooding caused by broken water pipes. The Surety Kohala Corporation assessed the structural integrity to their Kohala Ditch, which functioned as a tourist attraction for 10 years. The ditch was deemed irreparable and unsafe, ultimately closing this money maker.

Many roads and bridges collapsed or had deep cracks, and clean-up crews had to work for days to remove debris from the countless landslides. Many landmarks on the island were greatly affected. The Kalahikiola Congregational Church in Kohala was destroyed due to the collapse of the church's stone walls; the Hawi smoke stack, a relic of the old sugarcane trade, completely collapsed as well. The Hulihee Palace in Kailua Kona suffered extensive structural damage.[10] Another popular tourist area, Kealakekua Bay, home of the white monument to Captain James Cook, was swept over by massive landslides that caused the entire bay and its surrounding areas to momentarily disappear in a thick cloud of brown dust.[11]


Cliff falling in Waipio Valley during the earthquake

Mauna Kea Observatory

During the earthquake and aftershocks, a number of the telescopes at the Mauna Kea Observatories sustained minor damage, primarily Kecks 1 and 2 at the W. M. Keck Observatory, and the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope (CFHT).[12] The CFHT was operational and back online as of October 19,[13] but the Kecks were not restored to full operation until February 28, 2007.[14]

Blackouts

Power plants on Maui and the Big Island automatically shut off power to prevent damage, and generators tripped on Oahu, causing overloads in the electrical grid.[15] The Oahu power outages lasted 14 hours in some locations; only half of Hawaiian Electric Company's (HECO) Oahu customers had power restored before 9 pm, while outages generally lasted to about 5 pm on Maui and Hawaii. Power was restored to all HECO circuits by 1:55 am; however, there were isolated blackouts due to local problems, such as blown fuses. Power in Laie and Kahuku was not restored until 3 am. In Honolulu and Kahe, HECO generators shut down, and other generators tried to compensate, resulting in uneven loads on Oahu's electrical network and causing the system to shut down to prevent damage.[16]

Images

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2006 Hawaii earthquake.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 ISC (2014), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900-2009), Version 1.05, International Seismological Centre
  2. ↑ "Hawaiian: 'We were rocking and rolling'". CNN. 2006-10-15. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  3. 1 2 "Strong Quake Rocks Hawaii". Local News (Maui Weekly). 2006-10-19. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  4. ↑ "USGS Community Internet Intensity Maps". USGS. 2007-10-15. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  5. ↑ "Disaster declared as quake hits Hawaii". China Daily. Associated Press. 2006-10-16. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  6. ↑ "Hawaiian historic site damaged, but blessed". Hawaii travel (Associated Press). 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  7. ↑ "Hawaii County Cuts Red Tape for Big Island Repairs". Associated Press. 2006-10-27. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  8. ↑ Lehrer, John (September 2009). "Welcome Home". Westways.
  9. ↑ "Mauna Kea Beach Hotel 'softly' reopens". Hawaii Tribune-Herald, December 25, 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  10. ↑ Hawaiian Historic Site Damaged..., Associated Press, accessed November 3, 2006
  11. ↑ Continuing Landslides lead to closures and Kealakekua Bay, Associated Press, accessed November 3, 2006
  12. ↑ "Hawaii quake damages special telescopes". Archived from the original on March 9, 2007. Retrieved 2006-10-20. Link dead as of 15 January 2007
  13. ↑ "15 October 2006 Earthquake Aftermath at CFHT". University of Hawai'i. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  14. ↑ "Earthquake Update from W. M. Keck Observatory". W. M. Keck Observatory. 2007-02-28. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  15. ↑ Reyes, B.J. (2006-10-16). "Outages hit Oahu hardest". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  16. ↑ Reyes, B.J. (2006-10-17). "Outage stirs anger". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
Sources

External links

Wikinews has related news: 6.7 magnitude quake shakes Hawaii
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