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GeoNet / Supplied
12,896 people reportedly felt the earthquake.
It was a rocky start to the last day of 2020 in Wellington as thousands of people reported feeling a 4.5 magnitude earthquake near Upper Hutt this morning.
The quake struck at 1.10 a.m. Thursday about 10 kilometers west of Upper Hutt, according to GeoNet.
It was at a depth of 25 km, and 12,896 people reportedly felt it from near Gore to Kaiwaka.
Upper Hutt resident Ange Theodore said the earthquake woke her up and the dog she was caring for entered her room while shaking.
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“We noticed that a potted plant had fallen off its bricks outside on the deck onto the lawn, but other than that there was no other noticeable damage.
Denise Pitts, a resident of Eastbourne, said she woke up with a lot of shaking and heard the noise from the windows.
“I stayed awake for a short time to see if anything else happened, but nothing else happened, so I rolled over and went back to sleep.”
She lives in a 115-year-old house and said it would take a lot to change the “Great Old Woman”. Nothing in the house moved or fell.
New World Silverstream owner Chris Lamont said it had been a bit difficult, but the store had been well maintained and there was no damage when staff arrived this morning.
Fifteen people in Wellington, Canterbury, Waitākere and Hauraki districts reported experiencing extreme tremors.
