I didn't feel a thing here in Wellington
Series
of earthquakes hit Wellington and Nelson
A
series of earthquakes has been widely felt in the top of the South
Island and Wellington..
A map provided by GeoNet shows the location of the earthquake
22
April, 2014
GeoNet
initially reported a 5.2 magnitude quake, centred 25 kilometres east
of Seddon in Marlborough at a depth of 24 kilometres. It hit at about
10.42am.
It
has now revised
the magnitude down to 5.1.
A
smaller earthquake hit slightly earlier, recorded
at a magnitude of 4.4 and
centred 30 kilometres east of Seddon at a depth of 20 kilometres.
There
were also reports of a third earthquake, shortly after midday today.
'It took us by surprise'
A
plate tectonics researcher said today's earthquakes in Marlborough
are a reminder for people to be ready.
Victoria
University's professor of geophysics, Martha Savage, said the quakes
were probably related to the 6.6 earthquake that struck Seddon in
2013, as tectonic plates take a long time to settle.
Ms
Savage said residents should not be too concerned, however, as there
is only a one in one hundred change today's shake will lead to a
larger one.
Seddon
Supervalue owner Kevin Kamat said his staff and customers hardly
reacted to the large earthquake.
Another
resident, Len Gibson, said it was nothing like the 6.6 earthquake
that struck Seddon in 2013, the largest of a series of shakes that
caused considerable damage.
Nelson
resident Ally Hossain said it took a while for her to realise what
was happening - and before she had time to react, it was over.
Ms
Hossain, who was on the fourth floor of her Nelson office at the
time, said she only felt it because she was sitting down.
"It
just took us by surprise, a little bit. We at first didn't realise
what was happening but one of my colleagues just said, 'Is that an
earthquake?'
"I
could feel my desk move and could see the blinds in our office
building - I'm on the fourth floor - starting to move as well. It
only lasted for probably about five, six seconds."
St
John spokesperson Ian Henderson said the service has had no reports
of injury or damage as a result of the earthquakes.
In
its blog,
GeoNet said no structural damage was expected but a few reports
indicated that items may have fallen from shelves.
Trains
in Wellington came to a halt for 20 minutes due to the earthquakes.
The network has now been given the all-clear and services have
resumed but Tranz Metro said delays could be expected.
The
epicentre of the first earthquake is shown in green; the second is
shown in orange. Photo: GEONET
Aftershocks
GeoNet
also recorded a magnitude 3.2 quake, centred 15 kilometres east of
Seddon, at about 12.15pm.
The
service's public information specialist Sara Page said more
aftershocks from the larger quake were likely to come.
Ms
Page said about 2500 people had reported feeling the quakes on the
service's website.
She
said it paid to be prepared for earthquakes and people should have an
emergency kit.
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