String of earthquakes rattle the country overnight following strong 4.7 shake in Seddon

A string of light earthquakes have hit several parts of the country since Seddon was rattled by a 4.7M quake last night. Photo/ file

Two big earthquakes and more than a dozen smaller ones have kept the country rattling since yesterday evening.

A 4.7 magnitude quake near Seddon struck shortly after 6pm at 15km deep. Nearly 4000 people say they felt the shake according to GeoNet.

Commenters on GeoNet's Facebook page weighed in on the quake.
​
"That didn't feel moderate," said Cory Price, after GeoNet initially classified the tremor as moderate.

Katy Pownall said her Christmas tree was "dancing".

At the same time near Culverden in Canterbury a moderate 4.1 earthquake hit at 20km deep.

Again nearly 4000 people reported feeling the quake, some as far north as Tauranga.

Only a handful of those who felt either quake described it as "extreme". Most classified their experience as "light" or "weak".

Since then nearly 20 more shocks have jolted the country, all classified as weak or light by GeoNet.

Most of these smaller quakes' epicentres were in the north east of the South Island, but one 3.4 shake struck at 10km deep near Whakatane.

One Herald reader reported feeling a quake around midnight in Maketu and more than 200 people reported feeling it with GeoNet.

In nearby Gisborne, locals were preparing for a big one following a Facebook prediction, but Civil Defence has said no one was able to predict an earthquake.

The Facebook warning was posted by Napier man Nigel Antony Gray who had claimed to have predicted the 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura quake.

He was now predicting East Cape was going to be hit today.

Gisborne also lost power when a light plane crashed into powerlines yesterday morning, killing both people on board.

Locals speaking to the Herald yesterday said they were stocking up on food and petrol in case they had to flee.

"We hear there's been an earthquake warning put out," said Adele Maynard, sitting in a queue of about 60 cars at the BP east of Gisborne centre with Evan Barbarich.

"On top of the power cut, prepare for everything I suppose. Just to make sure our cars are all ready just in case we have to leave."

This morning some supermarkets have been able to reopen on backup generators.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence Controller Patrick Willock said people have been heading there in a panic.

He told Newstalk ZB's Rachel Smalley it was most unhelpful, as nobody can predict an earthquake.