Magnitude 5.3 earthquake jolts Hawaii

An earthquake jolted the Big Island of Hawaii, which is already under a US hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning.

The magnitude 5.3 quake struck at 7.38pm local time on Monday, about 25 miles south of Hilo, according to a preliminary report from the US Geological Survey.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. Earlier yesterday, the weather service placed the Big Island under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning, as Hurricane Flossie approached. A flash flood watch was also issued for the island until tomorrow.

The Big Island is largely rural, with about 150,000 people, and most live in the west or north-east, not the southern portion expected to be hit hardest by the hurricane.

Other islands are expected to get much less of the storm’s wind and rain.