Strong quakes hit Hawaiian Islands

Washington -- An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter scale struck the Hawaiian Islands Sunday, the US Geological Survey said.

Dozens of aftershocks were also felt.

Hospitals reported treating numerous injuries but no fatalities in the first hours after the quake.

The big quake struck at 7:07 a.m. (1707 GMT). It was centred 10 km southwest of Puako on the northwestern coast of Hawaii, the archipelago's largest island, at a depth of 38.9 km.

A second quake rattled the Pacific island chain seven minutes later with a magnitude of 5.8. Its epicentre was 20 km southwest of Hawi city near the northern tip of the so-called Big Island, at a depth of 18.9 km.

Local media reported widespread power outages, with moderate damage to some buildings. Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle issued a state disaster declaration within hours of the first earthquake.

A hospital in Waimea in the northern part of the Big Island said that its emergency room was inundated with injuries including fractures, largely due to rockslides, KITV in Honolulu reported.

Among more than 40 aftershocks reported on the website of the Geological survey, nine registered at least 3.1 on the Richter scale, including one that hit 4.2 more than three hours after the first earthquake.

Hawaii is the only US state that is not part of the North American mainland. Honolulu is the state capital and largest city.