A photo from GeoNet's camera on White Island taken at 8.40am today, seven minutes after the quake, does not appear to show an eruption at the crater. Photo / GeoNet
A photo from GeoNet's camera on White Island taken at 8.40am today, seven minutes after the quake, does not appear to show an eruption at the crater. Photo / GeoNet
An earthquake recorded 110km north of White Island was not related to any activity on the island.
According to GeoNet, a severe quake hit just after 8.30am at a depth of 30km - 110km north of White Island.
It was initially recorded as being of 'intense severity', which had nowbeen revised to 'moderate'.
GNS Science volcanologist Brad Scott said while the volcano was linked to the same tectonic plate boundary processes that caused earthquakes, the area where this morning's quakes were recorded were well beyond White Island.
"These earthquakes are occurring about 100km away from White Island and are therefore not likely to be at all to be associated with the volcano."
GeoNet images of White Island's crater floor this morning did not appear to show any unsettled activity on the volcano.
The quake followed a more minor 2.4 magnitude shake just a few kilometres south-west of the island shortly after 5am today, which had a depth of 9km.
Duty Volcanologist Michael Rosenberg said because the earthquake was a "significant distance" away from White Island there was very little chance of the volcano erupting, and there was no cause for concern.
