A cluster of eight shallow earthquakes struck near Masterton yesterday afternoon.
The quakes, which occurred over a period of about five hours on the afternoon of Saturday November 15th 2008, were located in three distinct areas 10 km north-west of Masterton.
The activity began with a magnitude 4.1 earthquake at 1:22 p.m. Two further quakes of magnitude 3.0 at 5:30 p.m. and magnitude 2.9 at 5:54 p.m. were recorded at the same location. The three events were shallow, at depths between 23 and 27 km.
Meanwhile four light quakes were recorded very close by. This sequence began with a magnitude 2.7 event at 1:25 p.m., followed by a magnitude 2.4 quake at 1:38 p.m., a magnitude 2.6 event at 1:50 p.m. and a magnitude 2.6 earthquake at 3:36 p.m. The quakes were at depths of 25 km.
The second largest earthquake of the series, a 28 km-deep magnitude 3.4 quake at 1:26 p.m., was slightly removed from the other two centres of activity.
Only the two largest quakes have been reported as felt by the public. The magnitude 4.1 quake was felt along the eastern side of the lower North Island from Wellington to Levin and at several locations in Wairarapa. The magnitude 3.4 quake was felt at Masterton and Carterton.
[Compiled from data provided by the GeoNet project and its sponsors EQC, GNS Science and FRST.]