By Xinhua,
Wellington : A mild quake hit the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand’s North Island on Saturday afternoon, thought to be an aftershock following Friday’s 5.4-magnitude tremor in the region, GNS Science reported.
Volcanologists have warned tourists and other visitors that they should stay away from White Island, offshore from Whakatane, this weekend.
The 3.1-magnitude quake struck at 1:58 p.m. (0158 GMT) and was centered 10 km southwest of White Island, at a depth of 5 km, GNS Science reported.
It was felt in Whakatane and was part of an aftershock sequence, scientists said.
Two major tremors in the early hours of Friday morning were followed by the 5.4-magnitude quake — one of the biggest felt in the area for some time. It was centered 10 km southwest of the volcano and just 5 km deep.