A strong, very deep earthquake struck to the south of the Kermadec Islands late this evening.
Wednesday 9th September 2009
A very deep earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck 100 km south of L’Esperance Rock (680 km north-east of White Island) at 10:33 p.m. tonight. The quake, which was 420 km deep according to GeoNet, was centred 760 km north-east of Auckland.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the event as magnitude 5.2 at a depth of 320 km, located 140 km south-west of L’Esperance Rock.
The earthquake was felt weakly in Wellington and may have been felt along the eastern coast of the North Island.
This evening’s earthquake was located about 400 km south of the magnitude 6.2 earthquake of September 3rd. This event which was located 95 km west of Raoul Island, was shallower, being 260 km deep.
[Compiled from data provided by the GeoNet project and its sponsors EQC, GNS Science and FRST; and the US Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]