Wellington shaken by 'strong' 4.8 earthquake

File photo. Photo: 123RF

A shallow 4.8 earthquake felt in Wellington Monday night hit the fault-riddled Cook Strait, GNS science says.

Geonet says the short, sharp quake struck at 11.38pm and was centred 15 kilometres south-west of Wellington, at a depth of 13 kilometres.

GNS science advisor Jon Ristau told Morning Report earthquakes of this size in Cook Strait are not unusual.

"Cook Strait itself is riddled with faults that have been mapped by NIWA so earthquakes in this region are not uncommon at all."

Ristau said he felt it in Upper Hutt, though it wasn't strong.

"But I can imagine people in Wellington probably got a pretty good rattle."

There was a 2.5 magnitude aftershock shortly after the initial quake and a few smaller aftershocks, he said.

More than 17,000 reports were received from people who felt the shake, according to the GeoNet site.

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