A series of aftershocks were registered by seismometers of the new Zealand Institute of GeoNet in the valley Ngakuru in the region of the volcanic zone Taupo. In total over the past two days near the volcano occurred 132 of the earthquake. Their peak was about 4 am local time from 29 to 30 October. The magnitude of seismic events ranged from 1.0 to 2.9, the epicenters were located at depths from 3 to 9 km.
According to experts GeoNet, the quake was tectonic in nature. Ngakuru valley is located in the center of the fault zone, Taupo, stretching from crater lake Rotorua to lake Taupo. The territory in which the registered earthquake is the area of expansion of the earth’s crust where volcanic region of Taupo continues to grow in size.
Of the total number of seismic events 40 aftershocks has received magnitude from 1.5 to 2.0, 36 – from 2.0 to 2.4. The largest earthquake of magnitude 2.9 occurred at the end of the seismic series. Some tremors were well felt by people living in nearby settlements. GeoNet continues to monitor geological activity throughout the volcanic zone.
Taupo is in New Zealand on the North island and is a volcano, which last in the history of our planet has made large-scale super eruption. Its explosion, which occurred approximately 26,500 years ago, resulted in the release of 430 km3 of volcanic materials and received index VEI-8 for 8-point scale explosion. The last time the giant was slightly erupted about 1800 years ago.