The July 15, 1940 earthquake

M5.6near Laup?hoehoe, Hawaii

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake, 39.0 miles off Hawaii County. The 35th strongest in Hawaii’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 6.4 on June 16, 1940.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.6; surface-wave magnitude (ms)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Monday, July 15, 1940; 16:47 HST; 03:17 UTC on Jul 16, 1940
Epicentre: 20.50°N, 155.00°W; 39.0 mi from Hawaii County
In Hawaii’s record: 35th; strongest of 39,637 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis1326 (“61 km NNE of Laup?hoehoe, Hawaii”). The USGS event page carries the ShakeMap, felt reports and the official summary.

Counties and cities within 50 miles

Distance from the epicentre to each county boundary (zero when inside) and to each city centre.

Counties

Hawaii CountyHI · 39.0 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

181 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

Earlier earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles, strongest first

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.