More than 500 earthquakes rattle Hawaii in 24 hours

May 9, 2018: From the USGS: "Ash column rises from the Overlook crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. HVO's interpretation is that the explosion was triggered by a rockfall from the steep walls of Overlook crater. The photograph was taken at 8:29 a.m. HST from the Jaggar Museum overlook. The explosion was short-lived. Geologists examining the ash deposits on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater found fresh lava fragments hurled from the lava lake. This explosion was not caused by the interaction of the lava lake with the water table. When the ash cleared from the crater about an hour after the explosion, geologists were able to observe the lava lake surface, which is still above the water table." less May 9, 2018: From the USGS: "Ash column rises from the Overlook crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. HVO's interpretation is that the explosion was triggered by a rockfall from the steep walls of Overlook ... more Photo: U.S. Geological Survey Photo: U.S. Geological Survey Image 1 of / 98 Caption Close More than 500 earthquakes rattle Hawaii in 24 hours 1 / 98 Back to Gallery

An explosion at the summit of the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii Sunday, triggered a 5.5-magnitude earthquake and sent an ash plum 8,000 feet into the air, according to officials at the US Geological Survey.

The quake hit at 6:51 p.m. PST and was centered about a half-mile below the Kilauea summit caldera. No injuries were reported and a tsunami warning was not issued.

In a 24-hour period straddling Sunday and Monday, more than 500 additional quakes mainly in the 2- to 3-magnitude range were recorded.

"It's a little overwhelming," Ben Shapiro with the USGS told the Honolulu Star Advertiser. "There's a lot of them."

ALSO: 'No way out': People surrounded by lava from Kilauea volcano





Most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been closed since May 11 because of earthquakes and continuous explosions from the volcano's summit crater.

The earthquakes, including Sunday's magnitude 5.5 quake, damaged the overlook deck and other features at Jagger Museum in the national park, where most visitors go to see the summit lava lake, park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said.

"Unlike lava, which you can see coming and avoid, we cannot see or predict earthquakes, nor can we foresee a summit explosion, but both threats continue," park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said. It's not known when the heavily visited Kilauea section of the park will reopen.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.