I can help with a summary of the latest publicly available information about the 1975 Hawaii earthquake and its context.
Core answer
- The 1975 Hawaii earthquake occurred on November 29, 1975, with a moment magnitude of about 7.2 and a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli scale. It caused two fatalities and significant property damage on the island of Hawaii, including a tsunami that followed the quake.[3][4][7]
Key details and context
- Location and size: The earthquake centered near the Kalapana area on the southeastern coast of the Big Island, at a shallow depth, making it the largest Hawaii quake of that era and one of the largest Hawaii quakes in the 20th century.[7]
- Casualties and damage: Two people were killed and hundreds injured; property damage was estimated around $4–4.1 million (1975 dollars) in the affected regions of Hawaii Island.[4][3]
- Tsunami impact: The event was followed by a tsunami with waves that, in some locations, reached around 12–14 meters (roughly 40–50 feet) near the southeastern coast, with significant inundation in that area; this tsunami is a defining aspect of the 1975 sequence and prompted extensive studies of tsunami genesis from earthquakes in Hawaii.[8][7]
- Volcanic activity: The earthquake was accompanied or closely followed by volcanic activity in the region, including impacts on Kilauea’s flank, underscoring the close coupling between tectonics and volcanism in Hawaii.[7]
If you’d like, I can pull together a concise one-page timeline or a short FAQ about the 1975 event, including key figures (magnitude, epicenter, casualties, damages) and the tsunami run-up, with sources. I can also provide a brief note on how this event influenced Hawaii’s disaster response planning. Would you like that?
Citations
- 1975 Hawaii earthquake details (date, magnitude, intensity).[3]
- Casualties and property damage estimates.[4][3]
- Tsunami characteristics and offshore impacts.[8][7]
Sources
The largest earthquake in over a century--magnitude 7.2 on the Richter Scale--struck Hawaii the morning of November 29, 1975, at 0448. It was centered about 5 km beneath the Kalapana area on the southeastern coast of the island at 19° 20.1 ' N., long 155° 01.4 ' W.). The earthquake was preceded by numerous foreshocks, the largest of which was a 5.7-magnitude jolt at 0336 the same morning, and was accompanied, or closely followed, by a tsunami seismic sea wave), massive ground movements,...
pubs.usgs.gov80th Governor George R. Ariyoshi and President Gerald R. Ford declared Hawaii County a major disaster area due to an earthquake-tsunami which struck there at 4:48 a.m., Nov. 29, 1975. Within minutes, a tsunami with 40-foot waves followed the earthquake. Two people were killed and approximately $4.1 million in property damage occurred due to the […]
dod.hawaii.govAn earthquake measuring 6.9 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted the Big Island of Hawaii on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
www.xinhuanet.comAuthorities warn of spattering hot rock and high levels of sulphuric gas
www.independent.co.ukAn earthquake measuring 6.9 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted the Big Island of Hawaii on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
www.xinhuanet.comThe Latest on the eruption of a Hawaii volcano that sent molten lava through forest land and bubbling up on paved streets (all times local):
www.ksl.com