UTC time | 1968-05-23 17:24:18 |
---|---|
ISC event | 822588 |
USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
Local date | 24 May 1968 |
Local time | 5:24 am NZST (UTC+12) |
Magnitude | 7.1 Mw |
Depth | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
Epicentre | 41°46′S 172°02′E / 41.76°S 172.04°E |
Areas affected | New Zealand |
Max. intensity | MMI X (Extreme) |
Peak acceleration | ~0.6 g[1] |
Casualties | 3 dead, 14 injured[2] |
The 1968 Inangahua earthquake struck 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Murchison, New Zealand, near the small town of Inangahua Junction at 5:24 am NZDT on 24 May 1968. The earthquake had a moment magnitude of 7.1, a local magnitude of 6.7, a surface-wave magnitude of 7.4[3] and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Exreme). It occurred at a depth of 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), being extremely shallow for an earthquake of its size. It resulted in the deaths of three people, with a further 14 people injured,[4] making it the fifth deadliest earthquake in New Zealand's recorded history (tied with the 1848 Marlborough earthquake). Numerous aftershocks followed the quake, including 15 that were magnitude 5 or greater and occurred within a month.[3]