A moderately strong earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands this afternoon.
Sunday 6th June 2010
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck 170 km south-south-west of L’Esperance Rock at 2:20 this afternoon. The 50 km deep quake was centred 695 km north-east of Auckland according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Geoscience Australia reports the earthquake as magnitude 5.1 at the much shallower depth of 2 km. Preliminary data from Geoscience Australia puts the epicentre further south, about 500 km north-east of East Cape. They estimate the quake would have been felt up to 180 km away.
GeoNet’s seismographs indicate MM3 shaking (defined as weak, felt indoors as a light vibration, hanging objects may swing lightly) was registered from Mayor Island to Gisborne, including much of the Gisborne district.
[Compiled from data supplied by the U.S. Geological Survey, Geoscience Australia, GeoNet and their contributing agencies.]