HONOLULU_A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Hawaii Island on Friday, with its epicenter at the heart of the newly erupting Kilauea volcano.
The earthquake could be felt across the state, including Oahu, the home of the state capital of Honolulu.
The earthquake occurred around 12:32 p.m. Officials did not expect a damaging tsunami.
"It caused a lot of shaking in Hilo. There's been some minor sea level fluctuations and we do not expect a damaging tsunami," said Cindi Preller, a geologist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor.
The earthquake came about an hour after a 5.4 temblor.
Some residents on Hawaii Island farther away from the lava eruptions say they've been feeling earthquakes all day.
"We're far away from the lava eruptions, but getting affected by the earthquakes, three times today. Everything was falling off my shelf and I was cleaning up and picking up glass two times," said Pauline McClees, who lives in Pepeekeo along the Hamakua Coast, 11 miles north of Hilo.
"It shattered crystal glass, a mirror and mementos, all material things. We just let everything rock 'n' roll," said McClees, adding that what's most important is that everyone's OK.
"When the 6.9 earthquake hit, I put my arms around my 89-year-old mom. I take care of her and didn't want her to be afraid. We're removing things on shelves now, like glass that could shatter."
