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Strong Earthquake Felt 70km Northwest of Te Anau

Friday, 22 August 2003, 9:25 am
Article: Civil Defence Emergency Management

Strong earthquake felt 70km northwest of Te Anau in the South Island, New Zealand

12.12 am 22 August 2003

Universal Time: 2003 August 21 1212

NZ Standard Time: 2003 August 22 12:12 a.m.

Latitude, Longitude: 45.14°S 166.90°E

Location: 70 km north-west of Te Anau

Focal depth: 12 km

Richter magnitude: 7.1

A strong quake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale was felt at 12.12am on 23 August 2003. The quake was centred 70 kilometres northwest of Te Anau. A number of aftershocks, including one registering at 6.1 at 2.10 am were registered by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences. Current updates below.

Current Update:

The following earthquake has been recorded by GeoNet:
70 km west of Te Anau.

A large aftershock of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake at 12:12 a.m. this morning. There have been many aftershocks to this event, and these may continue for some time. The current earthquake (indicated by a star) is shown in the context of ten years of 'shallow' (less than 40 km) seismicity.

Did you feel this earthquake?

email felt@geonet.org.nz if you felt the earthquake

We would appreciate it if you could send an email to Felt Information telling us the date and time when you felt the earthquake, the address at which you felt it, and whether or not any local damage resulted. Please feel free to add any other observations.

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[Scoop Editor’s Note: Local residents have reported light damage. Southland Civil Defence reported a power outage at Tuatapere, and a partial cut in other nearby areas.]

GeoNet is core funded by the Earthquake Commission (EQC) and is being designed, installed and operated by the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited (GNS) on behalf of EQC and all New Zealanders.

GNS accepts no liability for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, resulting from the use of the information provided. GNS does not make any representation in respect of the information's accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose.

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