Geonet says today's quake was aftershock number 143 from yesterday's magnitude 5.8.
So aftershock number 143 from yesterdays M5.8 was a bit of a shake! The M5.2 event was reported felt by over 19500 people throughout central New Zealand and is not out of the ordinary considering the size of the initial event, a great reminder to stay prepared @NZGetThru @EQCNZpic.twitter.com/wRuGCmpIgy
Nearly 20,000 people have reported to Geonet that they felt the quake, some as far away as Auckland and Invercargill. The majority described it as light or weak.
The initial jolt felt in central Wellington was slightly less severe than yesterday morning's magnitude 5.8 quake, but a moderate, swirling-like feeling continued for a substantial amount of time.
Rangitikei District Council Mayor Andy Watson said he was sitting at his desk working in the council chambers when the earthquake hit and it felt like quite a strong shake.
After yesterday's 5.8 magnitude earthquake he has not had any reports come to his attention of any damage in the Rangitikei district.
GNS Science seismologist John Ristau said yesterday's quake at 37km was quite deep, which mitigated many of the damaging effects.
Today's quake was 33km deep, according to Geonet. Being offshore would also help reduce damage.
Being offshore the area where both quakes originated was not well-studied by scientists, Ristau said.
So another wobble and I look across the boxes of my writing adorning my living room floor (almost finished sorting it into correct boxes- yay!) and I gingerly I step over them to hold the doorframe. Just in case it builds up. But it doesn't.I say to the earth "Peace now" #eqnz
— Katharina Zia Mason (@KatZolitaMason) May 26, 2020
"It possibly occurred where the Pacific plate is subducting - being pushed under - the Australian plate, which is what happens in the North Island. But we are not exactly sure."
The Kāpiti Coast was quite an active area so it was not a surprise the quake had happened there, he said.
