There has been a magnitude 6.1 earthquake east of Te Araroa this evening.
GeoNet reports the moderate quake hit at 7.37pm local time at a depth of 33km and was located 120km east of Te Araroa.
More than 7800 people reported feeling it with more than 370 reporting the shaking to be moderate or stronger.
A second Easter Monday earthquake, this one a M6.1 in the East Cape region. This was widely felt in the North Island and we have received over 7000 felt reports. See more here: https://t.co/fLuN1EDXGt pic.twitter.com/95MUNeL5mF
— GeoNet (@geonet) April 5, 2021
Fourth strong quake within a month
Three large earthquakes off the coast of New Zealand last month led to a tsunami threat on the coast and prompted towns to be evacuated.
A severe 7.1 magnitude quake struck 100km east of Te Araroa at 2.27am on 5 March, a tsunami warning was issued but then cancelled at about 6am.
But then another earthquake hit, this time it was a magnitude 7.4 quake about 45km near the Kermadec Islands and another tsunami warning was issued, this was followed by a magnitude 8.1 quake at a depth of 10km and also located near the Kermadec Islands.
By 1.20pm GNS advised that the main threat had passed and people who had evacuated were allowed to return home.
Now tsunami risk
GeoNet tonight tweeted that after a quake as large as the magnitude 7.3 event on 5 March, further quakes in the region could be expected. It said tonight’s 6.2 quake is the largest the region has felt since 6 March.
After a large earthquake, such as the M7.3 East Cape event on 5 March, we expect for there to be further earthquakes in the region, some of which may be widely felt. This is the largest earthquake in the region since an M6.2 on 6 March.
— GeoNet (@geonet) April 5, 2021
GNS seismologist John Ristau said tonight’s quake was part of the earlier sequence which prompted a tsunami alert and evacuations.
“Earthquakes of this size you know are going to generate a few aftershocks of its own, I wouldn’t be surprising maybe if there’s going to be something like around magnitude five or something in the high fours at least for the largest aftershock, the most likely scenario is you’re going to get a few larger aftershocks again, things will pick up a bit and then things will quiet down again.”
Fortunately there was no tsunami threat from tonight’s M6.1 earthquake but it’s still a good reminder of the importance of knowing what to do when you feel an earthquake: Drop, Cover and Hold, and if the shaking is Long or Strong: Get Gone. Learn more at https://t.co/aBz04iCeSq https://t.co/aOc7rWwBAC
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) April 5, 2021
Gisborne woman Megan Griffin said she was lying on her bed watching TV and the whole bed started shaking.
“I got up and I was like ‘earthquake, earthquake!’ and so all the kids came out into the doorway and we just stood in the doorway.
“It was quite scary cause we had that quite big one not so long ago … and it felt like it went oh about maybe 20 or 30 seconds, it was scary, you know you’re just kind of on edge.” [RNZ]
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