Magnitude 6.8 Quake strikes Kermadec Isls Region

An earthquake with preliminary magnitude 6.8 struck  in the Kermadec Islands region, north of New Zealand

For background information and earlier FEWW forecast see:

• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands
• Earthquake Cluster Zone Closing in on New Zealand

Earthquake Details (USGS)

Original Images: USGS.

Magnitude: 6.8
Date-Time:

• Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 06:23:59 UTC
• Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 06:23:59 PM at epicenter

Location: 31.092°S, 176.965°W
Depth: 13.6 km (8.5 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region: Kermadec Islands region

Distances:

• 190 km (115 miles) E of L’Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
• 220 km (140 miles) SSE of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
• 990 km (620 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
• 1350 km (840 miles) NE of WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 6.1 km (3.8 miles); depth +/- 22.4 km (13.9 miles)

Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

[UPDATE: December 12, 2008]

The above mainshock was followed by two strong aftershocks measuring 5.1 Mw:

Aftershock #1
Magnitude: 5.1
Date-Time:  Friday, December 12, 2008 at 10:46:18 UTC
Location:  31.101°S, 176.838°W
Depth:  10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region: KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
Distances:

• 200 km (125 miles) E of L’Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
• 230 km (140 miles) SSE of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
• 1005 km (620 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
• 1350 km (840 miles) NE of WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 13.3 km (8.3 miles); depth fixed by location program
Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID: us2008amai

Aftershock #2
Magnitude: 5.1
Date-Time:  Friday, December 12, 2008 at 11:55:29 UTC
Location: 31.096°S, 176.870°W
Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region: KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
Distances:

• 195 km (120 miles) E of L’Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
• 225 km (140 miles) SSE of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
• 1005 km (620 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
• 1350 km (840 miles) NE of WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 11.9 km (7.4 miles); depth fixed by location program
Source:  USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID:  us2008amam

Related Links:

• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands
• Earthquake Cluster Zone Closing in on New Zealand
• Mt Ruapehu Eruption Alert
• Another large quake strikes NZ

Earthquake Cluster Zone Closing in on New Zealand

Another Powerful Quake Hits Kermadec Isles Region

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake followed by two strong aftershocks hit the Kermadec Islands region in line with FEWW forecast.

10-degree Map Centered at 30°S,175°W

Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, Global Reference Map. USGS

FEWW Comments:

• The center of earthquake cluster incidence within the epicentral region of the  Kermadec Trench appears to be shifting south-southwest of its historical position, and closer to New Zealand North Island.

• According to FEWW analysis a magnitude 8+ earthquake would likely strike the Kermadec Isles epicentral region centered in an area about 285km SSE of Raoul Island [~900km NE of Auckland, New Zealand] before the New Year. Since 1900 only one other earthquake with a magnitude of 8 has struck the region. [1917 May 1 18:26 UTC, Depth: 60 km – USGS data]

Tectonic Setting

Kermadec Trench – Epicentral Region. Image Credit: USGS

Related Links:

• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands
• Mt Ruapehu Eruption Alert

Main Shock

Magnitude: 6.5
Date-Time: Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 09:12:40 PM at epicenter
Location: 30.327°S, 177.195°W
Depth: 35 km (21.7 miles) set by location program
Region: KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
Distances:

• 135 km (85 miles) SSE of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
  205 km (125 miles) NE of L’Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
  1035 km (650 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
  1410 km (880 miles) NNE of WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 11.3 km (7.0 miles); depth fixed by location program
Source: USGS NEIC
Event ID    us2008xuan

Aftershocks

1. Magnitude:    5.2
Date-Time: Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 10:45:00 UTC [ October 05, 2008 at 10:45:00 PM at epicenter]
Location:    30.856°S, 176.659°W
Source:    USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID: us2008xuas

2. Magnitude:    5.2
Date-Time:  Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 14:09:50 UTC [October 06, 2008 at 02:09:50 AM at epicenter]
Location: 31.156°S, 177.721°W
Source: USGS NEIC
Event ID:  us2008xua8