Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has caused tremors equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake as a result of a “collapse explosion event”, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS posted on Twitter: “A collapse explosion event occurred at Kīlauea's summit.

“The energy released by the event was equivalent to a M5.2 earthquake.”

A magnitude 5.5 quake rocked Hawaii on Sunday, according to Hawaii County Civil Defence officials.

Sunday’s quake sent an ash plume 8,000 feet into the sky.

But it did not cause a tsunami threat, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.