A 5.6 magnitude quake has struck Milford Sound this evening – the second such incident in under an hour.
Thousands of people reported feeling the first 5.5 magnitude quake after it struck off Milford Sound, causing moderate shaking.
The quake struck 40km north-east of Piopiotahi/Milford Sound at 6.13pm at a depth of 5km, GeoNet said.
It was followed by a 5.6 magnitude quake which struck 35km north-east of Milford Sound at 6.57pm at a depth of 5km, causing moderate shaking.
"Light shaking here in Queenstown, rolled on for a bit maybe 15-20 seconds," a 1News reporter said of the first earthquake.
One Queenstown woman posted to Facebook: "Holy hell that was a loud quake."
“Felt that in Caversham,” another woman posted, adding "my heart is pumping at full throttle".
Another poster said it was loud and rattled windows at their home in Arrowtown.
"We thought someone hit our house, it was such a large jolt," one added.
Another said the quake was "short and sharp compared to the one a couple of months ago". "Loud rumble, cracking noise and windows rattled. Something in the pantry fell to the floor."
One person in Alexandra said there was a "loud boom here before the shake arrived".
Queensland Lakes District Council said it would close the historic Edith Cavell Bridge over the Shotover River near Arthur's Point overnight. Engineers would be called to inspect the bridge "at first light" before the bridge was reopened.
Recent report outlined vulnerability for Milford Sound
This morning, Southland's mayor told RNZ the tragedy in Nepal should prompt practical preparation for the threat of a tsunami at Milford Sound.
A recent report from Emergency Management Southland outlined the potential for a landslide down the cliffs surrounding the water at Milford Sound, resulting in a tsunami.
Large landslides had occurred previously and an Alpine Fault earthquake could trigger that again, the report said, "potentially creating tsunami that reach visitor and village areas within minutes".
A report presented by Mackenzie District Council emergency management in July also revealed a major Alpine Fault rupture could isolate communities in the Mackenzie District and split Tekapo in two.
The faultline, spanning Milford Sound to the north of Lewis Pass, has a 75% probability of rupturing in the next 50 years, according to the AF8 website.
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