'Whole room was shaking': Earthquake rattles lower North Island
A 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Paraparaumu in New Zealand's lower North Island early this morning. While the shaking was described as moderate and felt by thousands, there were no immediate reports of major damage.
Why it matters
Seismic activity in populated regions highlights the importance of geohazard monitoring and public safety preparedness.
<p>People in the lower North Island were awoken by an earthquake that struck near Paraparaumu this morning. </p> <p>The 4.9 magnitude quake struck 30 kilometres north-west of Paraparaumu just after 6.30am at a depth of 26km. </p> <p>GoeNet described the shaking as "moderate", with over 20,000 people reporting it. </p> <p>"The whole room was shaking for a brief moment, probably for about two seconds," a person holidaying in Wellington told 1News.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in