HILO, Hawaii - The largest earthquake to hit a part of Volcanoes National Park in nearly 50 years shook up visitors Thursday, but no injuries or damage were reported, officials said.
The earthquake was centered near the Kilauea volcano, on Hawaii's Big Island, where lava flows to the ocean.
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the temblor was the largest in that area for at least 50 years. Since 1998, only a few earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 4.0 have occurred there, at shallow depths.
The park is warning visitors to be careful near Halemaumau Crater, at the summit of Kilauea. The earthquake widened cracks and existing fractures, leading to dangerous conditions near the rim, said Mardie Lane, park spokeswoman.
The area is one of the most popular parts of the park and is revered by Native Hawaiians as the home of Pele, goddess of the volcano.
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck in October near the Big Island, causing millions of dollars in damage but no deaths or serious injuries.
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