GNS Scientists are undecided about the cause of what some concerned Kawerau residents believe is a long "crack" running down the side of Putauaki - previously known as Mount Edgecumbe. The mark appeared on Saturday morning.

Following a swarm of earthquakes in the Whakatane region, some locals in Kawerau decided to leave town on Saturday for the remainder of the weekend, not just because of the quakes, but also because they woke to find Putauaki's appearance had changed.

"Dunno about you fullas but I'd get outta Kawerau today until Rūaumoko settles down," says Te Ringahuia Hata to their Facebook page.

"We didn't get much sleep last [Friday] night, and we want to be somewhere we can sleep tonight,” says a SunLive reader and Kawerau resident who travelled to Tauranga to stay with family on Saturday night. 'I just find I'm on high alert every time there's another quake.”

GeoNet has recorded more than 332 earthquakes since the early hours of Saturday morning.

The first was a magnitude 3.4 tremor at 3.29am on Saturday. It was 3km deep and 25km southwest of Whakatāne, near Kawerau.

On Saturday, Kawerau residents expressed concern about Putauaki, which rises above the Kawerau landscape, and is about three kilometres east of the town.

The mark that has appeared down the side of Putauaki. Photo: Supplied.

Some are wondering if there is a landslide imminent due to what they believe appears to be a long line or crack appearing on the side of Putauaki. The dacite volcanic cone is the easternmost vent of the Okataina volcanic centre, within the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

Putauaki is not open to the public and a permit is required to access the road and to climb the mountain.

SunLive sent photos from Kawerau residents to GNS Science to ask for more information about the observed mark.The scientists replied with two possibilities.

'Although hard to tell from the photos it does seem like a crack,” says a GNS Science spokesperson.

The scientists however are thinking there is a more likely cause to the visible mark.

'We have also been told that a large boulder was dislodged and has rolled a long way down the mountain creating a path along its way,” says a GNS Science spokesperson. 'Which to the naked eye could be perceived as a crack.

The mark that has appeared down the side of Putauaki. Photo: Supplied.

In case it is a crack in the side of the mountain, the GNS Science Landslide Duty officer has passed on the following safety messages for SunLive readers:

Landslides

Stay away from existing landslide areas. Stay away from any cliffs, particularly coastal cliffs and around waterways in the regions that have been badly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and/or the earthquake swarm. Further landslides may occur.

Landslides can occur without any warning signs. Be aware of the potential for landslides, particularly in the weeks after potential triggering events, such as heavy rainfall, earthquakes, and previous landslides.

If you learn or suspect that a landslide is occurring or is about to occur in your area: Evacuate immediately, away from the potential slide area if it is safe to do so. Getting out of the path of a landslide or debris flow path is your best protection.

Some warning signs before landslides occur:

• Small slips, rock falls, and sinking land, at the bottom of slopes.

• Sticking doors and window frames, which may mean the land is slowly moving under the

house.

• Gaps where window frames are not fitting properly.

• Steps, decks, and verandas, moving or tilting away from the rest of the house.

• New cracks or bulges on the ground, road, footpath, retaining walls and other hard surfaces.

• Tilting trees, retaining walls, or fences.