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About 20 aftershocks came after a “weak” earthquake that woke up Auckland and Coromandel residents in the early hours of Saturday.
The 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck at 3.47 am, 120 km northeast of Whangamata.
According to GeoNet, more than 2,500 people have reported that they are sorry.
Geonet
A 5.2 earthquake struck northeast Whangamata at 3.47am on Saturday, and many in Auckland felt it.
The earthquake was widely felt throughout Auckland, a rarity in the city, which is one of the least earthquake-prone areas in the country.
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GNS Science seismologist John Ristau said at least 20 aftershocks had been recorded since the earthquake.
Because it happened offshore, it was possible that there were also some smaller ones that hadn’t been recorded.
Ristau said the largest aftershock so far was magnitude 3.8, and one larger than 4 is not likely.
The earthquake is unlikely to have affected the sea floor and was too small to cause a tsunami.
But feeling the earthquake in Auckland was a rarity, Ristau said.
Auckland is far from any fault, although it is in the realm of volcanic fields, so earthquakes are possible.
“No place in New Zealand is truly earthquake free,” he said.
Aside from this earthquake, the last time Auckland residents could have felt one was in early 2019, when three magnitude 4 earthquakes struck roughly the middle of the city from where Saturday’s earthquake struck.
One person tweeted that he felt the tremor on the twelfth floor of a hotel in Takapuna.
Others reacted in surprise.
“Was it an earthquake in Auckland?” another posted.
“Yes, I felt that! The apartment building felt very ‘alive’ for a moment there, ”said a dumbfounded Aucklander.
“That is the strongest I have felt an earthquake in Coromandel, I do not like it,” said another.
The earthquake, as well as slight aftershocks, were also felt in Opito Bay.
“Our house shook for a good 15 seconds,” said a Stuff said the reader.
“[It was] pretty strong. “
Another said the earthquake was of “reasonable size” to shake a bach in Whangamata.
There are no reports of damage from the weak earthquake and the police and Fire and Emergencies had not received any calls.
