The October 16, 1956 earthquake

M5.5near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake 15.5 miles deep, 26.8 miles off Hawaii County. The 47th strongest in Hawaii’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 6.3 on August 21, 1951.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.5; local magnitude (ml)
Depth: 15.5 mi; 25.0 km below the surface
Local time: Tuesday, October 16, 1956; 00:44 HST; 10:44 UTC
Epicentre: 19.67°N, 156.47°W; 26.8 mi from Hawaii County
In Hawaii’s record: 47th; strongest of 39,637 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis2105 (“49 km W of Kailua-Kona, 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 · 26.8 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

621 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.