Biggest Recorded Quake Took Place Over 100 Years Ago
HONOLULU -- It has been over a hundred years since a magnitude 7.9 quake struck the island of Hawaii. Scientists said another one that powerful could cause extensive damage, not just to the Big Island but other islands as well. The last strong earthquake struck Hawaii nearly five years ago. The 6.7 magnitude quake rattled Oahu, Maui County and the Big Island and wrecked parts of Kohala. Hawaii has a history of these powerful quakes. "In the last 200 years or so there have been eight that were as large or larger than the one in 2006 -- that was magnitude 6.7," said Steve Martel, a geology professor at the University of Hawaii. But that 6.7 pales in comparison to the devastating earthquake in 1868 which was an estimated magnitude of 7.9. It killed nearly a hundred people and caused extensive damage and another one now could be even worse. "A 7.9 earthquake, a repeat of the 1868 one would cause considerable amounts of destruction on the Big Island," said Martel. If or when the next big one hits, it could also cause damage on Oahu. If the quake was closer to the central islands or deep enough so the powerful seismic waves didn't diminish. "The buildings that would tend to be the most susceptible to damage would be older buildings," said Martel. Homes built before stricter building codes could be shaken off their foundations and ones built with unreinforced masonry could crumble from the shaking. Scientists know the reason for the numerous quakes, the active Big Island volcanoes. "It's virtually inevitable, the earthquakes come with the volcanoes," said Martel. But what is still a mystery is when, where and just how big the next powerful quake will be. "We don't know when, we know where some of the most dangerous spots are, but we get surprises," added Martel. While there is concern over damage around a major earthquake, scientists are also concerned over that powerful quake could cause a tsunami, which could add to the destruction.
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