- A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Taumarunui at 4:51 am local time on Saturday, just hours after Tottenham Hotspur arrived for their pre-season tour.
- The quake was felt by more than 23,000 people across the North and South Islands, with reports of minor road damage but no major injuries.
- Aftershocks continued throughout Saturday, with nearly 80 recorded by late morning, ranging from magnitude 1 to 4.
- This earthquake comes just over a week after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Fiordland, which rattled homes across Otago, Southland, and parts of Canterbury.
- Experts have warned that while some regions in New Zealand experience earthquakes more frequently, no region is immune to seismic activity.
- Earth Sciences New Zealand seismologist Sam Taylor-Offord noted that while smaller earthquakes have occurred in the area, nothing of this size had been recorded before.
- Authorities have urged locals to remain wary of aftershocks and to have an emergency plan in place.
- The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) emphasized that the safest action during an earthquake is to drop, cover, and hold.
A severe 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit near Taumarunui, New Zealand, at 4:51 AM local time on Saturday, just hours after Tottenham arrived for their pre-season tour. The quake was felt by over 23,000 people across the North and South Islands, with reports of minor road damage but no major injuries.1234
Experts from Earth Sciences New Zealand noted that while the region experiences smaller quakes, nothing of this magnitude had been recorded before. Seismologist Sam Taylor-Offord stated, "This region is behind where most of the active tectonics are happening, which means that earthquakes are less common." However, he emphasized that aftershocks could continue for weeks or months, with nearly 80 aftershocks recorded by late morning, ranging from magnitude 1 to 4.8
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) director, John Price, warned that while some areas are more prone to earthquakes, “there's nowhere that's potentially not.” He urged households to have an emergency plan and to avoid complacency regarding earthquake preparedness. Price advised that during an earthquake, the safest action is to drop, cover, and hold, and to only leave a building if it shows signs of distress.11
This earthquake follows a 5.9 magnitude quake in Fiordland just over a week ago, reminding residents of the unpredictable nature of seismic activity in New Zealand.6
“The magnitude 5.9 quake struck at 4:51am Saturday, rattling over 23,000 people across the North and South Island with minor road damage but no injuries reported. Seismologist Sam Taylor-Offord noted the region had not seen such a large quake before, and nearly 80 aftershocks were recorded by late morning.”
London Evening Standard
