Hawaii Rocked by Earthquakes

Federal and state officials planned to formally assess the damage today from the 6.6-magnitude earthquake - the largest to rattle the Islands in 23 years - and a 5.8-magnitude aftershock that rocked Hawaii early Sunday.

Gov. Linda Lingle also planned to seek an emergency declaration that would lead to federal reimbursement of state costs, as well as a major disaster declaration to cover major repairs. Many schools on the Big Island of Hawaii planned to close today.

Before Sunday, the last largest quake to strike the Islands was the 6.7-magnitude Kaoiki quake that hit the Big Island on Nov. 16, 1983.

The Sunday quake hit at 7:07 a.m. and was felt as a steady, rumbling shudder that shook houses, cracked buildings, swayed high-rises and knocked artwork from their walls. It was located 24 miles below Kohilo Bay on the Big Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. A second, 5.8-magnitude quake hit just seven minutes later. It was located 13 miles northwest of Kawaihae.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m., a series of 55 aftershocks followed, said Jim Kauaihikaua, scientist in charge of the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The largest aftershock struck at 10:35 a.m. and had a magnitude of 4.2. It was located west-northwest of Kawaihae, Kauaihikaua said.