An early-morning earthquake at sea has knocked out power and toppled rock walls across the US state of Hawaii but there are no reports of deaths.
An early-morning earthquake at sea has knocked out power and toppled rock walls across the US state of Hawaii but there are no reports of deaths.
US scientists recorded the 6.3 quake at 0707 (1607 GMT) six miles (10km) south-west of the coastal town of Puako on the state's southernmost Big Island.
US scientists recorded the 6.3 quake at 0707 (1607 GMT) six miles (10km) south-west of the coastal town of Puako on the state's southernmost Big Island.
There was "no report at all of any fatality", Governor Linda Lingle said.
There was "no report at all of any fatality", Governor Linda Lingle said.
A US scientist said there was no risk of a tsunami but "significant wave activity" in Hawaii.
A US scientist said there was no risk of a tsunami but "significant wave activity" in Hawaii.
Everything has been shaken from... cupboards and walls, water tanks are leaking Stuart McMullanBBC News website user in Kailua Kona
The quake was felt as far as 150 miles (240km) away to the north-west on the island of Oahu where some people were trapped in lifts.
The quake was felt as far as 150 miles (240km) away to the north-west on the island of Oahu where some people were trapped in lifts.
Boulders fell on highways, rock walls fell down and television sets were knocked off stands, Governor Lingle said.
Boulders fell on highways, rock walls fell down and television sets were knocked off stands, Governor Lingle said.
Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the US National Earthquake Information Center, said there was no risk of a Pacific-wide tsunami.
Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the US National Earthquake Information Center, said there was no risk of a Pacific-wide tsunami.
"I wouldn't expect anything catastrophic," he said. "But you never know about these things."
"I wouldn't expect anything catastrophic," he said. "But you never know about these things."
Betsy Garties, a resident of North Kohala on the northern tip of Big Island, told the Associated Press she had been in bed with one of her small children when the quake struck:
Liz Fischer, a BBC News website user from Paia Hawaii, said she woke to find her wood-frame house swaying and stood outside as aftershocks arrived.
"First I heard a rumbling. Then the house started to shake. Then broken glass.
However the damage seemed minimal apart from things being thrown off shelves.
"It was strong enough that it was wobbling, so you almost lost your balance running out into the yard. The house was visibly rocking."
Alex Davidson wrote from Kailua-Kona to say that as someone who had long lived in san Francisco he could say that the Hawaian quake was "one of the biggest" he had experienced.
But there had been little damage to his house, he added.
Your accounts
I am visiting here from San Francisco, the earthquake capitol of the world. A little after 7am our hotel room here on the beach started swaying back and forth for about 15 to 20 seconds. This was followed by a minor aftershock about a minute later. We have been without power since the earthquake - about 4.5 hrs now. The hotel had problems getting the back-up generator running for about the first 2 hours. Wave activity seems normal.William Cahill, Waikiki, Hawaii
It went on for about 2 minutes giving me time to run outside and observe a slight undulating of the ground. All the power went off on this island Maui and on Oahu where Honolulu is with its big population. It's Sunday so traffic was light. Special events were planned like a Ukulele Festival. Power is back on so the festival will probably go on as planned. John Bruce, Maui, Hawaii
The earthquake woke us up this morning. It shook the house for a while and rattled the dishes, but otherwise did no damage. Life is proceeding as normal. The news reports I've read so far make it sound quite a bit scarier than it was.Michael Reid, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
I woke up to my wood frame house swaying and my floor shaking early this morning - I ran outside along with my flatmates. We waited as a couple of aftershocks occurred under an overcast sky. It was a surprising way to wake up on a windy Sunday morning, however, the damage as far as anyone around here can see is minimal. Just things flung from shelves and such. Our electric was off in Maui for three hours , but it didn't stop us from making coffee - thank goodness for the gas stove and our French press. Our power is now online again and it's a fairly mundane morning . Life as usual. Almost. Liz Fischer, Paia Hawaii
We had violent shaking that caused deadbolted doors to burst open, books to tumble off shelves and all our ornaments and china to migrate across surfaces or tip over. Lamps fell over, pictures are askew and drawers and cupboards opened spontaneously, but we have little relative damage--some glassware and a broken ceiling fan. There is sporadic loss of electrical power and the phone systems are overloaded. Latest info is that the largest quake was 6.3 and that we have had upwards of 20 aftershocks, some have been rather strong. Other homes in the area have light fixtures dislodged from ceilings and shattered wall mirrors. Jennifer Shinsato, Kamuela Hawaii
This was definitely a big quake! My husband and I were awoken to the house shaking so bad that we couldn't stand up. There is no damage that we've seen, though Civil Defense is asking everyone to stay off the roads and phone services, because of most highways being damaged or even destroyed. The people of Hawaii are used to earthquakes, since we live on a volcano. Most have emergency power generators, backup water supply, and fruit trees. This was certainly a ride, though!Steph Bairey, Keaau, HI, USA
We live just a few miles from the epicentre of the earthquake. We have experienced several small quakes since we moved here 3 years ago (I'm an ex-pat Brit), but nothing like this. Just after 7am the whole house started rumbling and shaking for several seconds, and we raced to the nearest doorway. It was followed by an almost equally bad aftershock just a few minutes later. We only lost power for a few minutes, but there have been widespread outages throughout the state. Also, at least 2 highways have been closed due to landslides, and the local hospital was evacuated due to structural damage. Many of our friends have no power, everything has been shaken from their cupboards and walls, water tanks are leaking. Many people use propane tanks for ovens and water heaters, so I would expect there to be several gas leaks. Stuart McMullan, Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA
Aloha, this was one of the biggest earthquakes I've experienced. As a long time resident of San Francisco I'm used to shocks - but this was a big one! Very violent shaking with loud rumbling that lasted a long time. Our house is ok - just some minor cracks in some tiles but we hear that others have shifted on their foundations. It's too early to tell how extensive the damage is to Kona as we've all been told to stay off the phones and off the roads. AlexAlex Davidson, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA
Were you affected by the Hawaiian earthquake? Send us your accounts using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.
Were you affected by the Hawaiian earthquake? Send us your accounts using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.
