Shallow undersea earthquakes have struck to the north and south of New Zealand today.
Wednesday 23rd September 2009
The U.S. Geological Survey has reported a magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 210 km south of L’Esperance Rock in the Kermadec Islands at 7:17 this morning. The 10 km-deep quake was centred 665 km north-east of Auckland.
At 3 o’clock this afternoon, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck 495 km south-west of the Auckland Islands. The 10 km-deep event was located closer to Australian territory, being centred 195 km north-north-east of Macquarie Island.
Earthquake activity has been quieter this month but includes shallow magnitude 5 events off the coast of Fiordland on the 22nd and 5th, a very deep magnitude 6.5 earthquake located 100 km south of L’Esperance Rock on the 9th and a deep magnitude 6.2 quake 95 km west of Raoul Island on the 3rd. On the 1st of September, a magnitude 6.0 quake located 60 km north of White Island at a depth of 250 km was felt at many locations in the North Island, and northern parts of the South Island.
[Compiled from data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and its contributing agencies; and the GeoNet project and its sponsors EQC, GNS Science and FRST.]