Table of Contents
Was there an earthquake in Wellington?
The last earthquake in Wellington occurred 6 minutes ago: Minor mag. 2.1 earthquake – Tasman Sea, 70 km southwest of Whanganui, New Zealand, on Thursday, Jun 23, 2022 at 10:01 pm (GMT +12).
Is Wellington overdue for an earthquake?
While a major rupture on the Wellington Fault can be expected anytime in the next 500 years, a significant earthquake on other faults in the Wellington area have a shorter 150 year return time.
What happened Wellington earthquake 1855?
The shock was felt across almost the whole country, and was highly destructive in Wellington (MM 10), and severely damaging in Whanganui and Kaikōura. Between 7 and 9 people were killed in the earthquake, and 5 others sustained injuries that required hospitalisation.
How long did the Wellington earthquake last?
Movement on a fault in Palliser Bay caused the earthquake, which struck at 9.11 p.m. and lasted for 50 seconds. It lifted the southern end of the Remutaka Range by a staggering 6 m.
When was the big earthquake in Wellington?
23 January 1855
The largest recorded earthquake to have hit New Zealand rocked Wellington and the Wairarapa at 9:11pm, on 23 January 1855. The earthquake measured 8.2 on the Richter scale and was centred in the south-west Wairarapa along the Wairarapa Fault, about 25 kilometres from Wellington.
How do you know if a building is earthquake safe?
Using the Department of Building and Safety website, you can easily check to see if your building is on that list. Just enter your address into the search tool and click on the “Soft-story Retrofit Program Information” button once your building’s information appears.
What does 67 NBS mean?
A building rating less than 67%NBS is considered as an Earthquake Risk Building (ERB). New legislation now applies to earthquake-prone buildings, primarily around identifying the buildings and timeframes for strengthening. There is a perception that earthquake-prone buildings can’t be occupied, but that’s not correct.
When was the biggest earthquake in New Zealand?
Earthquakes in New Zealand since 1950 The strongest earthquake in New Zealand happened on 10/20/1986 in the region Raoul with a magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter scale.
Why does Wellington have so many earthquakes?
Wellington is prone to earthquakes because it rests on the point where two tectonic plates meet. Kilometres beneath Wellington the light, thick Australian plate rides over the heavier, but thinner Pacific plate.
What’s New Zealand’s biggest earthquake?
The biggest known earthquake in New Zealand was the 1855 magnitude 8.2 in the Wairarapa; around 5,000 km2 of land was shifted vertically during the earthquake. The largest earthquake recorded in the world in the last 100 years was the 1960 magnitude 9.5 earthquake in Chile.