New Zealand earthquake

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck New Zealand near Wellington on Wednesday at a depth of 48 km (30 miles), government seismic monitor Geonet said.

The powerful quake started with a jolt and was followed by continuous shaking.

The earthquake was generated from a depth of 48km, which is why it was felt “more widely and strongly,” GenoNet reported. A second 4.0 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 78km was recorded just over 20 minutes after the first, leading to weak shaking felt by nearly 4000 people within an hour of first reports. “It’s a difficult time for the (North) Island,” it said. GeoNet reported that the earthquake “caused a long and strong shake felt widely across the North Island and Marlborough region”. The quake was reportedly felt by thousands of people within an hour of first reports of the incident, which occurred at 7.38pm local time (5.38pm AEST). [cyclone Gabrielle ripped through the nation](https://7news.com.au/weather/cyclone), causing [devastating landslides.](https://7news.com.au/weather/severe-weather)

Four people - including a child - have died in landslides and floodwaters and towns remain cut off.

Police said they believed the child was caught in rising water. It's estimated to affect at least a third of the country's five million population. "We need to stop making excuses for inaction. Meanwhile, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake was widely felt across the country late on Wednesday. The body of a missing firefighter who had been caught in a landslide in west of Auckland was also found on Tuesday. One woman was killed in a landslide at her home, while another person was found dead on the shoreline, authorities said.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck near the New Zealand capital Wellington on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, ...

Geological Survey said, as the nation grapples with widespread landslides and flooding across a sodden landscape after a cyclone. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck near the New Zealand capital Wellington on Wednesday, the U.S.

The US Geological Survey said the quake measured 5.7 on the moment magnitude scale, with an epicentre in the Cook Strait between the country's two main islands.

"It is already a really stressful time for people - look after yourself and the people around you," said the civil defence agency. A magnitude 6.0, 57km deep, 50km north-west of Paraparaumu was widely felt in the North Island," said New Zealand's Civil Defence agency. The quake came as the cleanup gets underway from a devastating cyclone, which killed four people and caused widespread damage across the North Island.

Wayne Langford describes the extent of the devastation from floods caused by ex-Cyclone Gabrielle and its impact on local agriculture.

For the latest information, search Wayne Langford describes the extent of the devastation from floods caused by ex-Cyclone Gabrielle and its impact on local agriculture.