Swarm of quakes south of Rotorua

A swarm of earthquakes were recorded south of Rotorua yesterday in the Te Kopia area.

23 quakes were recorded ranging between a 1.3 to 3.0 magnitude in a six hour period.

The depths ranged between 3 and 8 km.

A similar swarm occured near Waikite Valley last month.

Swarm activity like this is very typical of earthquake activity in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

GeoNet said in a statement that local residents reported feeling the earthquakes although they were too small to be widely felt or cause any significant damage.

The Waikite Valley-Te Kopia area is about 20-30 km from Rotorua and is characterised by many active faults. GNS Science geologists have mapped numerous active faults in the area.

The largest is the Paeroa Fault.

GNS Science continues to monitor all activity throughout the Taupo Volcanic Zone.