WIRES:

Quake Swarm Hits Marlborough

Thursday, 5 April 2001, 12:55 am
Press Release: Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences

A swarm of small earthquakes hit Marlborough this morning with the biggest one, a magnitude 5.0 jolt, felt in Wellington and Lower Hutt.

The most widely felt quake struck at 9.25am, was 37km deep, and was centred 30km southeast of Blenheim. At least six other smaller quakes have been recorded in this region since 8.30 this morning. Seismologists say it is possible there will be more small earthquakes in central New Zealand.

Seismologist Warwick Smith, of the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited, said coastal Marlborough was a particularly active part of New Zealand and quake swarms were not unknown there. A swarm in this region last year lasted for several weeks, although the quakes were smaller than those recorded this morning.

END

LINK:
Seismological Observatory - Latest NZ Earthquake
http://www.gns.cri.nz/news/earthquakes/index.html

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