'Hard and sharp': Earthquake jolts lower North Island, residents woken early this morning

The 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck south-west of Dannevirke at 4.35am.

Thousands of people have been shaken awake after a "hard and sharp" earthquake jolted the lower North Island early this morning.

The 4.8 magnitude quake rattled residents just after 4.35am on Wednesday, and was centred 25km deep, 10km southwest of Dannevirke.

An early wakeup call for many in the lower North Island. Our duty officer has reviewed that quake as a M4.8, 25km depth just south of Dannevirke. We've had over 2700 felt reports for that one #eqnz https://t.co/2YdpiH8vtB pic.twitter.com/SloY1iA8X0

— GeoNet (@geonet) April 23, 2019

Thousands of residents in the lower North Island felt the early morning shake, reported GeoNet.

One Newstalk ZB listener rang in after being jolted awake near Woodville. "You could hear it coming, I was awake unfortunately, being upstairs it was really shaking."

Others from Palmerston North said they also felt it.

"I'm from Palmerston North and it was nice and sharp here," one person posted on social media.

Good jolt in Palmy just now. Glad our old house can sway. Gulp. How is everyone?#eqnz

— Lorna Johnson (@lornaajohnson) April 23, 2019

The earthquake was also described as "sharp" as far away as Whanganui.

"Hit twice, hard and sharp where I am," one person wrote on social media.

Good shake up Taihape way too. Hope everyone's okay closer to Dannevirke, been some good shakes over that way in past years

— Eloise (Ellie) Whyte (@kiwielle) April 23, 2019

Others were not so impressed by Mother Nature's alarm clock.

"Damn earthquake, you suck waking me this early, grrr not impressed."

Some made do with the early wake-up.

"Good shake in Waiouru, so yes, we are up, and had a cuppa."

One person in Hawke's Bay said it was a "real sharp jolt".

Another said there were two quakes about an hour apart. "Felt two this morning an hour apart, second one was huge."