Earthquakes hit the Bay of Plenty, “shaking” the population

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A swarm of earthquakes hit the Bay of Plenty. Image / GeoNet

A swarm of more than 40 earthquakes hit the Bay of Plenty this morning.

Residents reported feeling “shaking” and shivering on social media.

The largest earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.8, was at 4.46 am, while the second had a magnitude of 4.6.

The first tremor was a 3.4-magnitude tremor at 3.29 am.

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“This swarm is in an area similar to the swarms that occurred in 2018 and 2019,” Geonet said.

“Feeling earthquakes so close together in time can be disturbing, but this is a typical activity for the area, and our team is keeping an eye on things.”

Kerry Schindler said she felt more than 50 earthquakes in Kaweru which began at 3.30am when she “was shaken awake” and some were “very strong”.

“They are still going and you can hear them before the shaking happens. Some things in the house fell and broke.

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She said it was a bit scary and she had flashbacks as a child from the Edgecombe earthquake.

“It was definitely an uneasy night.”

A swarm of earthquakes was occurring tonight southwest of Kauru, felt across the Bay of Plenty. We have recorded more than 40 earthquakes so far, the largest of which were M4.8 and M4.6. This swarm is located in an area similar to the swarms that occurred in 2018 and 2019. 1/2

– GeoNet (@geonet) March 17, 2023

There are a lot of small quakes going on right now, “from nose to tail,” said Kendall Budd.

“I can hear constant gurgles. Some items have been knocked off shelves and water spills from fish tanks that I had to vacuum up at 4 am.”

“My animals were beside themselves. My dogs wanted to come take a shower with me this morning.”

On the Whakatāne Notice Board Facebook page, residents said the quakes felt larger than the official magnitude recorded.

One said, “It felt like the house was much bigger, the house was swaying so badly.”

“Being superficial we feel it more,” said another, while a third said it was “very scary” and “they still feel mild aftershocks.

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