Earthquake Wellington

Wellington Shakes Things Up: 4.8 Earthquake Hits Capital!

Wellington was jolted awake last night by a 4.8 magnitude earthquake! Find out how Kiwis reacted when the earth moved under their feet!

In what can only be described as a manual for unplanned wake-up calls, Wellington experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake late last night, sending thousands of Kiwis into a collective frenzy! The quake struck at 11:38 PM, centered approximately 15 kilometers south-west of the capital and at a shallow depth of 13 kilometers beneath the surface. While the clock struck late for most, this sudden shake left many Wellingtonians with wide eyes and racing hearts, wondering if they had accidentally stumbled into a scene from a horror movie or were simply caught off guard by Mother Nature’s party tricks.

Did anyone else feel like they were just about to get a coffee when the ground decided it was time for a little shimmy? GeoNet reported that around 17,000 folks took to social media to share their experiences, and judging by reactions, sleep clearly wasn’t on the agenda for those caught off-guard. Newtown resident Wesley described the sensation as a brief yet strong jolt that felt like an overzealous espresso shot right in the core of the earth. It turns out, the foamy froth of adrenaline from an earthquake is quite different from that of a cappuccino!

Interestingly, this is not the first time Wellington has been rocked by a scare from beneath. The region is known for its fault lines, rhythmic with secrets buried deep in the earth. Previous quakes have ranged in magnitude but serve as a reminder of the tectonic dance that New Zealand is continuously part of. The Cook Strait, which is notorious for its seismic activity, once again proved that, just like during a brief moment of turbulence on a plane, you can never fully prepare for the ground to shake—or for the entertaining tales that come after!

A final fun fact: Did you know New Zealand rests on the Pacific Ring of Fire? This seismic belt is home to about 75% of the world’s active volcanoes and around 90% of its earthquakes, making it a little shaky but rich in geological wonders. So the next time your coffee trembles or your cat looks startled, remind yourself that in the land of the long white cloud, it’s all in a day’s work for the earth!