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