A 5.1 magnitude quake occurred close to Hicks Bay on Saturday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The tremor shook at 21:19 UTC (09:19 local time), with its epicenter approximately 16 km north of Hicks Bay and a depth of 35 km.

Did you feel it?

If you experienced the earthquake, you can submit a report through the USGS Felt Report form. 7 people have submitted responses through the agency’s online form, indicating they felt weak shaking. According to the USGS DYFI report, residents in cities like Gisborne and Whakatane reported experiencing the quake.

Impact and estimated losses

The USGS categorized this as a Green Alert, which means there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Structure information summary
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are reinforced masonry and unreinforced brick with timber floor construction.

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey