20 Aug 2013

Quake risk calculated

9:42 am on 20 August 2013

GNS Science says the chance of having another earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or higher in the central North Island is about 20%.

Only one aftershock above magnitude 4.0 has been felt in Marlborough and Wellington in the past 24 hours, since a magnitude 6.6 quake on Friday.

GNS seismologist, Kelvin Berryman said the chance of a magnitude 6.0+ quake is about 20%, or five to seven times higher than normal.

Dr Berryman said the earthquakes do not appear to be happening on a well known fault.