Two Significant Quakes Strike New Zealand

“Strong” quakes strike along the Alpine Fault

The first quake registered magnitude 4.7 and struck about 5km south-west of Seddon, upper South Island, rattling buildings in downtown Wellington, according to local reports.

Magnitude: 4.7
Depth: 21 km
Epicenter: 41.70ºS, 174.03ºE
Location 5 km south-west of Seddon
Date/Time:  December 6 2013 at 0:45:00UTC
Intensity:  Strong (MM scale)
Source: Geonet

The second quake, also measuring magnitude 4.7, struck 10 km north-west of Milford Sound near the lower South Island shaking Milford Sound, about two hours later.

Magnitude: 4.7
Depth: 16 km
Epicenter:  44.58ºS, 167.88ºE
Location: 10 km north-west of Milford Sound
Date/Time: December 6 2013 at 02:56:30UTC
Intensity: Strong  (MM scale)
Source: Geonet

The quakes followed another significant quake, measuring magnitude 4.2, which struck at a depth of 5km, about 20 km west of Reefton (42.03ºS, 171.65ºE) on Sunday, according to Geonet records.

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