earthquake on the Big Island. Had a 7.2 back in 1975. This is not a plate-fault earthquake, where stress is ‘relieved’. This is an active volcano moving around underground. So just because we had a big one does NOT mean the stress is relieved. There is magma under pressure, and we could have another big one at any time.
Part of the stress and uncertainty. The summit has deflated. Pu’u O’o has collapsed and deflated. All the magme flowed down the rift and is now fighting to escape from the weak spot it finds. The cracks will get larger, and more earthquakes will rearrange the underground plumbing. Pele goes where she pleases… something we all live with here.
But I am happy with the house. It’s built on a slab which tends to float in one piece in an earthquake, so it keeps the house together. No fears of sleeping in it now. I may need a gas mask though, if the fumes come this way.