17 Oct 2006

Massive clean-up operation underway in Hawaii following 6.6 quake

6:39 am on 17 October 2006

Clean-up and emergency repair crews are working overtime on Hawaii Island after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake jolted the Pacific archipelago, knocking out power and causing rock slides.

The US Geological Survey says the quake which hit the island early yesterday was followed by at least a dozen aftershocks, the strongest a moderate 5.8 magnitude.

Governor Linda Lingle issued a disaster declaration, but says that there had been no reports of deaths.

She says the most serious injury was a broken arm on the Big Island.

Yesterday's quake is believed to be Hawaii's strongest since 1983, when a magnitude 6.7 quake hit Kaoiki.