on edge

Magnitude 4.2 earthquake rattles Wellington
Last updated 12:15 08/12/2011
関東地方は今朝も２度ほどゆれましたが（rattled）、地球の反対側のNew Zealandでも地殻変動が続いているようです。以下はWaikato Timesから。こういうときの心的状況を表しているのがon edgeという表現です。言い得て妙です。（b.m.）
Wellington quake, Thursday

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Wellingtonians were this morning rattled by a second quake in a week after a 4.2 quake hit near Porirua.

The quake, which hit at 10.16am, was 30km deep and centred 10km west of Porirua, reported GeoNet.

The earthquake could be an aftershock from the bigger jolt felt in the city on Saturday said Geo Net duty seismologist Lara Bland.

"It is possible that it is a bit of an aftershock [from Saturday's 5.7 quake] but there is no cause for concern at this point.

"Wellington is right there on the [tectonic] plate boundary and it is a really active area. It is not really out of the ordinary."

It is difficult to confirm whether it was an aftershock, she said.

"It is in the same region but it is quite a bit further north.

In the first 20 minutes after the quake Geo Net had received 661 reports from people who felt the quake stretching from the Marlborough Sounds to the Wairarapa.

Kiwis are "much more on edge" of earthquakes since the disasters which unfolded in Canterbury, Ms Bland said.

"You don't want it to ruin your life but a certain amount of worry is good if people do constructive things about it."

We should all have a well prepared emergency kit and an organised meeting place for our families, she said.

Johnny Miller, of Newlands, moved to Wellington from Christchurch after the February 22 quake that devastated the Garden City.

He described this morning's rattler as "a mild shock".

"The 5.7 quake on Saturday was more like what was felt in Christchurch," Mr Millar said.

Chase Sharrock, of Porirua, said he heard a crack then felt a sharp bolt and ran for the nearest pillar to stand under.

"Im still shaking now," he said.

It was the second earthquake felt in Wellington in the past week.

On Saturday night, a magnitude 5.7 quake hit 30km east of Picton.

In that quake, there were reports of ornaments being knocked off shelves. The fire service were called out to investigate damage to louvres on the outside of the Meridian building on Wellington waterfront and several alarms were also set off.