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:
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: