Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-05-24
Hawaii's Big Island is on high alert after a M6.0 earthquake struck near Honaunau-Napoopoo on May 23, with USGS forecasting a possible new Kīlauea eruption episode between Sunday and Wednesday. Today's global seismic report shows moderate activity with one M6.0+ event in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Costa Rica is facing a critical funding crisis that threatens to dismantle its earthquake and volcano monitoring network.
Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-05-24
Seismic Activity
Hawaii M6.0 — Big Island on Alert
A powerful M6.0 earthquake struck near the coastal village of Honaunau-Napoopoo on Hawaii's Big Island yesterday evening (May 23), rattling residents and triggering fears of imminent volcanic activity. The tremor was felt over 150 miles away on the western island of Oahu, with witnesses describing the shaking as "terrifying" and "like something out of a movie."
Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are closely monitoring Kīlauea, which has been erupting since December 2024. Forecast models suggest that Episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption could begin between Sunday and Wednesday. As of the latest USGS update, the eruption is currently paused, the alert level sits at ADVISORY (Yellow), and summit inflation has resumed.
Global Seismic Summary — May 24
VolcanoDiscovery's World Earthquake Report for Sunday, May 24 records moderate global seismic activity: 1 quake M6.0+, 4 quakes M5.0+, 36 quakes M4.0+, and 189 quakes M3.0+, for a total of 628 events in the past 24 hours.
Volcanic Watch
Kīlauea, Hawaii — Episode 48 Imminent
As noted above, USGS-HVO has Kīlauea at Alert Level ADVISORY/YELLOW. Glow was visible from both eruptive vents overnight, and summit inflation has resumed following the pause in activity. Forecast models suggest a new eruptive episode is likely in the coming days.
Nevado de Longaví, Chile — Alert Raised to Yellow
Chile's Nevado de Longaví volcano has had its activity alert raised to Yellow, according to the May 23 Volcano News summary. The elevation in alert status indicates increased monitoring and heightened vigilance for potential unrest.
Fuego, Guatemala — Ash Reaching 30 km
Guatemala's Fuego volcano continues to produce significant ash emissions, with plumes reaching as far as 30 km from the summit, according to the May 23 volcanic news roundup.
Weekly Volcanic Activity (May 14–20)
The Watchers' Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for May 14–20, 2026, recorded new activity or unrest at 7 volcanoes and ongoing activity at 20 volcanoes worldwide during that period.
Earth Science
Costa Rica at Risk of Losing Its Monitoring Network
Costa Rica's national volcanology institute OVSICORI has issued an urgent warning: funding shortages are threatening to dismantle the country's earthquake and volcano monitoring infrastructure. The agency warns that seismic stations, early-warning systems, and disaster response capabilities could all be lost if the financial crisis is not resolved. The development comes at a particularly sensitive time given Costa Rica's position along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The OVSICORI situation mirrors a broader global pattern of underfunded geoscience infrastructure, with scientists warning that reduced monitoring capacity directly increases risk to populations living near active volcanic and seismic zones.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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