It’s natural to ask the question about how many aftershocks there have been since the M7.2, but the answer isn’t so simple.
While no one can scientifically predict earthquakes, we can provide forecasts of future earthquakes using computer models that are updated as an earthquake sequence continues. Forecasts based on the 5 March 2021 East Cape Earthquake are in the table below.
Three large earthquakes have struck offshore New Zealand this morning all triggering tsunami alerts. Our scientists have developed three scenarios for what earthquakes may happen over the next 30 days.
The Tsunami Warning for New Zealand coastal areas following the magnitude 8.1 earthquake near the Kermadec Islands Region has been cancelled.
The National Advisory of tsunami activity is no longer in effect following a M7.3 earthquake east of the North Island.
Ten years ago, at 12.51pm, on 22 February 2011, the city of Christchurch was struck by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake.
A series of short-lived, low-energy steam explosions occurred on 19 February 2021 at Whakaari / White Island following a small increase in volcanic tremor levels. These explosions took place over about 100 minutes. These small events do not appear to have produced any traces of ash locally. Since the event, activity has returned to low-level. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
2020 was an incredibly challenging year. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic saw Aotearoa New Zealand plunged into lockdown. But natural hazards don’t respect lockdowns, so our teams continued to work 24/7 monitoring New Zealand’s geological hazards
A National Advisory: Tsunami activity has been cancelled for New Zealand following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that occurred southeast of Loyalty Islands at 2021-02-11 2:20 AM
Remote monitoring of the vent area at Whakaari / White Island that erupted in December 2019 has revealed that the temperatures of gas emissions has declined from over 700 oC to 300 oC in the last year. Recent observations suggest no eruptive activity since a series of minor steam explosions on 29 December 2020. Current activity is still characterised by steam and gas emissions at moderate-low levels. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.