Who felt the earthquake just now? (20 December)

[Katman]

Yep, we felt it here.

[ceebie13]

Yep!! Felt it in the Hutt too!

[Slingshot]

Lets play guess the magnitude...


I'm picking 5.8

[99TLS]

May have been something you ate!

said the man on the freewind

[Bullitt]

Must have been bigish if its been felt that widely.

First earthquake Ive felt in the 9 months Ive lived here

[Bren]

was watching pc monitor reading post...the thing shakes easily....felt a slight rock saw monitor shake a little,,,,and light swinging a little...then phone call from in laws...ma in law in wgtn was a bit freaked out....wife down here did not feel it

[Goblin]

And here I was thinking I was gettin really pissed!

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

felt a bit of a shake here in Dunedin

Geonet says 6.8

http://geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quak...nt_quakes.html

[325rocket]

6.8
thats a big bastard

[Bren]

From Geonet

• • Site Name: Tolaga Bay Area School
  • Site Code: TBAS
  • MMI: 7
  • Time(NZST): 20/12/2007 20:55:31

New Zealand Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (simplified)

The size of an earthquake is often described using magnitude, which is the amount of energy released during an earthquake. However, not all of the energy released in an earthquake will necessarily be felt at the surface, depending on the earthquake's depth. In New Zealand, where earthquakes occur from near the surface right down to a depth of over 600 km, the Modified Mercalli intensity scale is a better indicator of an earthquake's effects on people and their environment.

The original Mercalli scale graded the effects of earthquakes into ten steps. The scale used in New Zealand is a twelve step ranking, hence Modified Mercalli (MM), with 1 representing the weakest of shaking, through to 12 representing almost complete destruction. The descriptions below are a simplified version of the New Zealand Modified Mercalli Intensity scale:

* MM 1: Imperceptible
Barely sensed only by a very few people.
* MM 2: Scarcely felt
Felt only by a few people at rest in houses or on upper floors.
* MM 3: Weak
Felt indoors as a light vibration. Hanging objects may swing slightly.
* MM 4: Largely observed
Generally noticed indoors, but not outside, as a moderate vibration or jolt. Light sleepers may be awakened. Walls may creak, and glassware, crockery, doors or windows rattle.
* MM 5: Strong
Generally felt outside and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers are awakened and a few people alarmed. Small objects are shifted or overturned, and pictures knock against the wall. Some glassware and crockery may break, and loosely secured doors may swing open and shut.
* MM 6: Slightly damaging
Felt by all. People and animals are alarmed, and many run outside. Walking steadily is difficult. Furniture and appliances may move on smooth surfaces, and objects fall from walls and shelves. Glassware and crockery break. Slight non-structural damage to buildings may occur.
* MM 7: Damaging
General alarm. People experience difficulty standing. Furniture and appliances are shifted. Substantial damage to fragile or unsecured objects. A few weak buildings are damaged.
* MM 8: Heavily damaging
Alarm may approach panic. A few buildings are damaged and some weak buildings are destroyed.
* MM 9: Destructive
Some buildings are damaged and many weak buildings are destroyed.
* MM 10: Very destructive
Many buildings are damaged and most weak buildings are destroyed.
* MM 11: Devastating
Most buildings are damaged and many buildings are destroyed.
* MM 12: Completely devastating
All buildings are damaged and most buildings are destroyed.

[Cajun]

not to sure how long this image will be active for

geonet seams to be getting overloaded

[Slingshot]

Must have been bigish if its been felt that widely.

First earthquake Ive felt in the 9 months Ive lived here

That's because Wellington isn't actually on a fault line, it's a myth created by the reserve bank & the Labour government.

[robertydog]

Information about this earthquake:

Reference Number 2839343/G
Universal Time December 20 2007 at 7:55
NZ Daylight Time Thursday, December 20 2007 at 8:55 pm
Latitude, Longitude 38.86°S, 178.52°E
Focal Depth 40 km
Richter magnitude 6.8
Region Hikurangi Trough
Location 50 km south-east of Gisborne
400 km south-east of Auckland


Felt widely, especially along east coast North Island

[Cajun]

Quake Details

Information about this earthquake:
Reference Number 2839343/G
Universal Time December 20 2007 at 7:55
NZ Daylight Time Thursday, December 20 2007 at 8:55 pm
Latitude, Longitude 38.86°S, 178.52°E
Focal Depth 40 km
Richter magnitude 6.8
Region Hikurangi Trough
Location

* 50 km south-east of Gisborne
* 400 km south-east of Auckland

[Fatjim]

Wife was sitting in the car on the driveway when it happened. She thought I'd snuck down and was shacking the car by the towbar*




*We don't have a towbar on that car.