This forecast only considers the M7.3 East Cape earthquake. For scenarios that include the M8.1 Kermadec event, please see here.

Given that the earthquake occurred some distance offshore, we cannot detect the smaller earthquakes that we usually use in our computer models. Therefore, we base our forecast on an average of other New Zealand sequences and a global model for subduction zones.

These two models provide the spread of the average number and the probabilities in the table below. The range covers the 95% confidence bounds including both models. The forecast applies to the region around the mainshock as indicated by the box on the map below. Earthquakes can and do happen outside this region, but the box represents the most likely area for aftershocks in this sequence.

	M5.0-5.9			M6.0-6.9			M≥7.0
	Average number	Range *	Probability of 1 or more	Average number	Range *	Probability of 1 or more	Average number	Range *	Probability of 1 or more
within 30 days	2.6-4.5	0-9	>90%	0.3-0.4	0-2	25-35%	0.03-0.04	0-1	3-4%
within 365 days	9-13	4-21	>99%	0.9-1.2	0-4	60-70%	0.10-0.13	0-1	9-12%

*Issued on 24 March 2021, 6 pm. This table shows a forecast for future earthquakes in the given time intervals from the time of issuing for the forecast area from 178.50-181.5 degrees longitude and -36.5 to -38.5 degrees latitude. 95% confidence bounds

For example, this table says that:

• It is unlikely (25-35% chance) that there will be one or more M6.0-6.9 earthquakes within the next 30 days, with between 0 and 2 events expected in this range. This is down from 30-40% last week.
• It is very unlikely (9-12% chance) that there will be one or more earthquakes of M7 or above within the next 365 days.
• While these probabilities are small, the possible impacts of an event such as this could be severe.
  

Updates:

• The next update of this table will be April 23 2021
• As time goes on, we increase the time windows for our forecasts to reflect the the decay in activity. We are no longer producing the forecasts for the 7 day window, keeping the 30 day window, and are now including the 365 day (1 year) window.
• If you require the 7-day forecast window for your decision-making, please get in touch at info@geonet.org.nz

What you can do about this:

As described in this article about our forecasts, the best thing we can do is be prepared for earthquakes. Remember, Long or Strong, Get Gone.

Drop, Cover and Hold during the shaking. Protect yourself from the earthquake first.

As soon as the shaking stops, move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.

NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) have a great website with information on what to do before, during and after a tsunami. There you can also find tsunami evacuation zone maps for around New Zealand, and what supplies you need in an emergency.

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GNS SCIENCE MEDIA CONTACT: 021 574 541 or media@gns.cri.nz