More than 11,000 people reported feeling a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook residents awake across the Thames Valley on February 3.
Occurring just after 2am, the quake’s epicentre was 5km south of Te Aroha and had a depth of 6km, and according to GeoNet, the “strong” tremor was felt by 11,166 people – including residents throughout the Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel districts.
There were also reports that the quake was felt by people in Wellington, Northland, and the South Island.
A Waiomu resident said they felt a “solid shake” and thought their house was joining the Ruamahunga Bay slip.
Another local said it “started with a boom” and they thought it was an explosion.
The earthquake was the latest in a series of shakes that have rocked the Waikato region recently.
A M3.9 shake occurred just before 7am on December 29, while another strong quake, a M5.1, also woke residents and damaged land at 5.39am on January 4.
A Te Aroha resident said they were “shaking with shock” after the latest tremor and thought it was perhaps time to get out the emergency bag.
“What more can mother nature throw at us?” he said.
DETAILS: To prepare yourself and your whānau for an emergency, visit www.getready.govt.nz/en/
