In an early Monday live television interview with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, an earthquake suddenly struck the studio at the parliament complex in Wellington. She temporarily stopped the interview to inform Newshub host Ryan Bridge about what was happening at the studio.
As the camera shook a few times, the prime minister calmly reported that they were having a bit of an earthquake with quite a decent shake. She kept looking up and around the room, noticing how some things behind her were shaking as well.
New Zealand lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is sometimes referred to as the Shaky Isles due to its frequent quakes. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that shook the area on Monday struck the ocean about 100 kilometers northeast of Wellington.
The earthquake hit before 8 a.m. and was felt by thousands of New Zealanders who were getting ready to start their day. Reports claim that it was strong enough to rattle items from supermarket shelves and temporarily halt train services.
Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or significant damages. After a while, Prime Minister Ardern carried on with her interview, telling the host the shaking had stopped.
How often do Earthquakes Occur in New Zealand?
According to Learnz, a virtual educational platform in New Zealand, earthquakes happen every day in the country. About 14-15,000 earthquakes occur in and around the country every year. Although most earthquakes are too small to be felt, between 150 and 200 earthquakes are strong enough to be sensed by locals.
In New Zealand and other parts of the world, most earthquakes start when two moving plates meet and press against each other. Stresses from the collision caused the rocks to break and create cracks. A fault becomes evident when the crack or fracture reaches the surface.
Although many of New Zealand's active faults have been mapped, scientists still aren't sure of exactly how many faults there are as they don't always come as visible and easy to locate.
How Should you React During an Earthquake?
According to the United States Geological Survey, during an earthquake, if one is indoors, stay there. It is advised first to survey the scene, just as NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did, as she said that her location seemed to be safe, and there were no hanging objects above her.
The Drop, Cover, and Hold On technique is also advised as well as to stay clear of windows, fireplaces, and heavy appliances or furniture. When outdoors, the USGS suggests staying out in the open far from buildings, power lines, chimneys, or other objects that could fall and collapse.
In the event that an earthquake suddenly occurs while you are driving, it is advised that you stop driving. However, you should make sure that you park your car somewhere safe, away from bridges, overpasses, or trees. USGS advises that you stay inside your vehicle until the shaking stops.
