Twin earthquakes rock Hawaii's Big Island on Friday
A magnitude of 6.9 earthquake shook Hawaii's Big Island on Friday, nearly an hour after a 5.4 magnitude quake hit the same area, prompting fresh eruptions of the Kilauea volcano.
The US Geological Survey said that the latest quake occurred about ten miles southwest of the Leilani Estates on the Big Island.
In a tweet, the US Geological Survey said, "This is in almost exactly the same location as the 1975 M 7.1 quake."
Earlier on Friday, another quake of 5.4 magnitude shook Big Island, forcing thousands to evacuate. The quake occurred just 11 miles to the southwest of the Leilani estates, where cracks in Kilauea volcano's rift zone erupted on Thursday and early Friday.
Drone and video footage showed orange magma gushing up from cracks in the ground.
No injuries have been reported but several homes were said to have been destroyed.
Officials have ordered more than 1,700 to evacuate from the neighbourhoods near Kilauea volcano's newest lava flow, warning of the dangers of spattering hot rock and high levels of sulfuric gas that could cause breathing problems, especially for elderly people.
"Elderly, young and people with respiratory issues need to comply with the mandatory evacuation order and leave the area", a statement from the mayor's office said.
(With agency inputs)
