1848_Marlborough_earthquake
1848 Marlborough earthquake
Earthquake in New Zealand
The 1848 Marlborough earthquake was a 7.5 (Mw) earthquake that occurred at 1:40 a.m. on 16 October 1848 and whose epicentre was in the Marlborough region of the South Island of New Zealand.[1]
In Wellington, the shaking lasted for about two minutes and caused widespread damage, especially to brick or stone structures. Most of the buildings damaged in the earthquake were rebuilt in wood[2] and this contributed to the relatively low level of damage and loss of life in the more powerful Wairarapa earthquake that hit Wellington seven years later.