Late-night earthquake shakes the lower North Island
Residents in the lower North Island were woken up late last night by a moderate earthquake. The tremor occurred at 11:09 pm and was felt by many people living in the Wellington and Porirua regions.
According to GeoNet, the official agency for monitoring geological hazards in New Zealand, the earthquake had a magnitude of 4.6. It was located 30 kilometres north-west of Porirua at a depth of 38 kilometres.
Many locals took to social media shortly after the event to describe their experience. Some residents reported hearing a loud noise, with one person describing it as a sudden "boom" before the shaking began.
Emergency services have not reported any major damage or injuries following the event. While earthquakes are a common occurrence in New Zealand, this specific tremor served as a reminder for residents to keep their emergency kits prepared and up to date.
GeoNet continues to monitor the area for any further activity. Residents are encouraged to check the official website for the latest updates and safety information regarding seismic activity in their region.