World
5.7-magnitude earthquake hits near Wellington in New Zealand
A significant earthquake struck the Cook Strait region early this morning, October 6th, at 5:08 AM.
The M5.7 quake, with a depth of approximately 33 kilometers, was widely felt throughout the Wellington region and northern parts of the South Island.
Geonet has received over 36,000 reports of the earthquake, highlighting its widespread impact.
This event serves as a reminder that earthquakes can occur anywhere in New Zealand at any time.
In the event of a major earthquake, it is crucial to remember the “Drop, Cover, and Hold” safety protocol.
If you are in bed, remain there and follow the “Stay, Cover, and Hold” procedure. If the earthquake is prolonged or intense, evacuate the area immediately.
If you are indoors during an earthquake, move a short distance to a safe spot and immediately drop to the ground, cover your head and neck with your arms, and hold on to something stable. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are certain it is safe to exit.
If you are outdoors when an earthquake strikes, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines. Then, drop to the ground, cover your head and neck, and hold on.
After an earthquake, tune in to your local radio stations for important updates and advice from emergency management officials. Be prepared for aftershocks.
If you are in a damaged building, evacuate carefully by using the stairs instead of the elevator. Find a safe, open area outside.
Crime
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Created Mall Shooting Simulator in Roblox
Investigators and online researchers have identified a Roblox account allegedly linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the deadly mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
According to platform officials, the account was discovered by users on the internet forum Kiwi Farms, who reported that Van Rootselaar had created a game — referred to on Roblox as an “experience” — that simulated a shooting inside a shopping mall.
The virtual environment appeared to resemble a Canadian retail complex, although it has not been confirmed whether the design was intended to replicate a specific real-world location.
Videos circulating on social media prior to its removal showed a player-controlled character collecting weapons and firing into crowds of animated civilians within the mall setting.
The footage quickly drew widespread concern given the seriousness of the real-world attack.
Roblox confirmed that the account belonged to the suspect and announced swift action in response.
“We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect,” the company said in a statement. “We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.”
Initially, reports suggested the game remained accessible despite the account being deleted. However, Roblox later clarified that the content has now been removed from the platform.
The company also noted that the mall-themed experience was only accessible through Roblox Studio, a development application used by creators to build games, rather than through the main platform available to general users.
As a result, the experience reportedly recorded only seven visits, indicating extremely limited exposure.
Investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s digital footprint, including online posts and usernames believed to match across multiple platforms such as Reddit, where references to Roblox activity were also reportedly found.
Van Rootselaar is accused of carrying out the February 10 shooting that left eight people dead and at least 25 others injured at the secondary school.
Authorities have not indicated whether the online content forms part of the official investigative findings, but technology platforms are increasingly scrutinized in the aftermath of violent incidents for potential warning signs.
Officials emphasize that the broader investigation remains active as law enforcement works to establish a complete timeline, understand possible motives, and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.