HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii – A magnitude 4.6 earthquake shook Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano just before midnight local time on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

USGS officials said on social media that the quake was centered on the volcano’s southern flank, and little to no damage is expected. The tremor hit only a few minutes after Kilauea’s 37th eruptive episode ended, following more than 9 hours of continuous lava fountaining, according to volcano monitors.

“Lava fountains are essentially jets of lava ejected high into the air.”

According to the USGS, Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has experienced a series of frequent eruptions since December 2024. The most recent eruptive episode began around 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download