Mysteries, Chemtrails, Aerosols :: Mysterious NZ

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Quite a bit of damage to buildings they are saying on the radio right now. Some peoples homes have been wrecked and power is out.
6.8 apparently.

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Information about this earthquake:
Reference Number 2839343/G
Universal Time December 20 2007 at 7:55
NZ Daylight Time Thursday, December 20 2007 at 8:55 pm
Latitude, Longitude 38.86°S, 178.52°E
Focal Depth 40 km
Richter magnitude 6.8
Region Hikurangi Trough
Location

* 50 km south-east of Gisborne
* 400 km south-east of Auckland

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Big quake strikes near Gisborne


Police and fire services were tonight struggling to cope with damage in downtown Gisborne and surrounding areas caused by a big quake offshore.

The 6.8 magnitude quake occurred in the Hikurangi trough, 50km southeast of the city, at 8.55pm, but there was no tsunami warning.

The quake, centred about 400km southeast of Auckland was felt strongly in Wellington, Blenheim and Nelson and tremors were reported further down the South Island including Christchurch, Dunedin and Hokitika on the west coast.

The quake was at a depth of 40km, and people at Gisborne said it arrived with an "enormous roar".

It damaged electricity services and the phone network, and the local hospital was believed to be without mains electricity. The fire service was called to 260 Gladstone Road and 190 Gladstone Road. A central police communications spokesman said "the quake has caused quite a lot of damage".

He said the city's central business district lost its power and there was minor damage to some buildings with "lots of glass on the streets".

"There were holes opening up in some streets, partial building collapses in some areas".

Civil Defence said the National Crisis Centre in Wellington has been activated.

"There have not been a lot of injuries reported yet but a contingency plan was being activated at the hospital," police said.

"There's been some minor damage in Gisborne and we would possibly expect similar levels of damage in Wairoa, Napier and Mahia," said GNS Science duty seismologist Warwick Smith. "It's been felt very widely".

But it was unlikely that the 6.8 magnitude was big enough to have cause an undersea landslide and no tsunami had occurred.

A quake of this size would occur onshore only once every seven or eight years.

The quake was more powerful than the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake, but the Edgecumbe quake was much shallower than tonight's quake.

John Hamilton, director of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, said on Radio New Zealand that the national crisis centre at the Beehive was monitoring the situation.

He said initial reports from Gisborne were sketchy, though there was known to be some damage in the central business district.

"There have been reports of some damage to water mains, water cylinders and pipes," he said.

Murray McPhail, who has a property at Makauri, about 10km from Gisborne city, said he could see waves in his swimming pool as the quake shook.

"You could just about surf on it," McPhail told NZPA.

"Stuff came out of cupboards, bottles fell off walls, ornaments fell.

"It was pretty violent. It was certainly a decent shake."

McPhail, who is involved in equestrian sport, has a barn and stables at his property but said it had escaped damage.

"We haven't suffered any serious or irreparable damage.

A resident living just outside Gisborne, Kathleen Munn told Radio New Zealand "the shaking was horrible".

"It was like the whole house was lurching from side to side".

Waikato District Health Board spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said the hospital had been put on standby in case Gisborne Hospital could not cope.

Newstalk ZB reported that the city centre had been cordoned off and residents told to turn off power, water and gas.

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- Clare Webber

The earth didn't move for me, but then I live in Auckland and I'm probably bit old anyway!

- John Carr

Here in Gisborne, massive, big shake, I was driving and thought the wheels were falling off the car. Power poles swaying, power went out, things kept shaking for another minute or so. Got home and a kitchen full of smashed glasses... and scared kids..!!! Phone lines overloaded, lots of people driving around... power back on in town now.

- Brent Mitchell

Your article doesn't mention the other coast, so I am writing this email to let you know we felt it very strongly in New Plymouth. The upstairs room we were in rocked for many seconds, maybe 30 or 40. There seemed to be two bursts, the second one the milder but longer of the two. They were very close together, only a few seconds apart. The group in the room felt dizzy at the outset until we realised it was an earthquake, and watched as the house we were in swayed against the backdrop of trees.

- Jennie Miller

I felt the quake in New Plymouth, just before dusk. My wife and I were watching tv and the Christmas tree started swaying. First thought was to check the Mountain wasn't smoking!

- Hamish

Foxton Beach. Lasted about three minutes. Our house is on a concrete slab and it was like trying to stand up in a boat. All my pictures are now hanging crooked on the walls.

- Christina Paton

I'd just stood up. I staggered. My Christmas decorations strung across the room were swaying, crystals were swinging, as was the disco ball, all glittering! Then I wondered how long and how serious it was going to be. We were lucky!

- Jane Donovan

Wow, I live in Whakatane in the eastern Bay of Plenty and I thought we were having another quake like the Edgcumbe one. The house rocked and creaked and rattled and rolled and it went on for AGES! To think we felt it so strongly and yet it was centred miles and miles away is really scary. I sure hope the damage is not too bad and that there are no injuries. My sympathies with those in Gisborne - the memory of the Edgecumbe quake has never really gone away and we relived it tonight. And I know the memory of theirs will never really go away either...

- H. Hannah, Whakatane

I'm in Gisborne and we just got the power back on here. Most of the town still has no power though, it was a huge shake with lots of broken TV's etc. Civil Defence has taken over the city centre and there are reports of partial building collapses and cracks opening up in roads.

- Matt Hayter

i heard a loud roar that seemed to go on and on before the rocking started, the roar went on for about a minute, which was very eerie

- Michael Pringle, wellington

Yes felt the big roll here in Pahiatua, was learning against a wall in the local takeaway, when it hit I thought something had pushed me from behind, it was the wall of the shop.

- Pete Lincoln

We live in Kaiti, a suburb of Gisborne – when it struck we grabbed the children as the whole house was shaking. We went for the doors but were afraid the windows were going to smash.

It last about 20-25 seconds and afterwards a lot of things had fallen on the floor – mirrors are smashed and the pantry shelves have collapsed. There is a thin crack in the ground in our backyward but everyone here is OK.

Family members were shopping in town when things started falling off the shelves, the power cut and people fell on top of each other.

- Manu Caddie

The power in Gisborne went off during the Earthquake and returned around 5 minutes ago at about 9.48pm.

At our house the shaking continued for around a minute or so (it seemed like a long time) and several items fell off tables and other surfaces. Items like our TV and fridge all shifted inches in position.

DOC staff have been notified to set up a stand-by fire team and a civil defense emergency has been declared with several areas of damage reported (my stepfather works for DOC)

- Anne Thompson

We are situated 7 ks north east of Wairoa.

Several long shakes which structurally damaged the 2 storied farmhouse
Brick Chimney down
Cracks in most walls
Kitchen Ceiling out
Personal effects damage especially in kitchen living dining rooms
All occupants safe however - but shocked
House a real mess
Xmas gifts
Not staying here tonight as too damaged gone to 8388971 sons house on farm

- Dennis Munro, Kohitane Farm

While fishing at Wharewaka Point, Lake Taupo earthquake was felt while sitting in car. A large was suddenly developed at the point and surged into the bay washing up the beach eight metres. My husband had to retreat quickly from the waters edge. we watched the wave curl around the bay until we lost sight of it in the darkness.

- Paula

I live at Waitarere Beach (half way between Foxton and Levin on the west coast) and I felt it quite strongly. The house shook as though the ground were jelly, and it seemed to go on for a very long time.
At one point it almost seemed to pause for the smallest fraction of a second before becoming a lot stronger... I was just about to go wake up the kids and get us all under the doorway when it settled back a bit. Everything in our house shook; the pantry, the stove, pictures... anything not nailed down jingled and swayed. I looked the quake up at Geonet.org.nz and I was quite surprised to see it was based where it was: from the strength of it I had expected a Wellington based quake.

- Tanya McKenzie

We felt it in Raumati, Kapiti Coast.

A rumble first, then a prolonged shake. Some of us felt their ears 'pop' with the air pressure changing.

- Alyson Murray

My husband and I felt this earthquake in Taradale, Napier.
The lights flickered, then the shaking began. Slowly at first, then stronger and continuous. We were sitting down in the kitchen listening to the cupboards shake, the windows rattle and the house creaking. The lights were swinging and the Christmas tree and decorations were swaying. I was surprised it didn't fall over! It was quite frightening as it lasted quite a while. I've lived here for 24 years and this would be the longest - strongest earthquake I have felt.

- Jo Coles.

Just emailing in bout the earthquake south of gisborne, which we felt here in nelson.
Sitting watching tv when the room started trembling.

Was also amazed at how fast you guys had the news online.

Currently talking to family in Gisborne who are saying the house is trashed, everything has been shaken up, the fridge has crept into the lounge, books shaken off shelves, plates cups and the like smashed on the floor.

- Nick Hamilton

Felt it here in Taupo. Sounded like a big gust of wind blowing through the trees, and thought the back door had blown open due to the Xmas tree moving like there was a breeze whistling through the house. Seemed like quite a reasonable shake..

- Alastair Green

I live in coastlands, whakatane. We felt the quake very strongly, ornaments rattled, lights swayed, and i had to hold onto my computer monitor. the quake lasted a few seconds.

- Nadine

Felt the ground move here in Dunedin at just on 9pm tonite. i emailed a friend and she said i was dreaming!! LOL

- Amanda

Hi there, I live in Rotorua, and I felt it!!!! I had just sat down on the toilet, and I thought I was going to fall off!! The toilet door started shaking backwards and forwards. When I came out to the lounge, the chandaliers were still rocking back and forwards 5 minutes later. We have lots of earthquakes here, but that is the biggest I have felt for years.

- Janine

Very stong swaying felt in Foxton Beach (in the Manawatu), which is over 6 hours from gisborne

cracks in a roof window also at our house, which is caused by the swaying

- J Wells

I am in Blenheim and felt it, it seemed to go on for a long time, more of a swaying rocking motion than jolting though. It must have been very scary for those in closer proximity.

Quake was felt as far south as Dunedin and as far north as Tauranga / Rotorua.

- Greta

We are in Napier and felt it strongly. It was a slow rocking movement.
Our outdoor pool rocked and splashed for ages afterwards. We all had
time to go outside. Check children etc. and it was still rocking.

- Hallidays

Was felt in Christchurch, not sure of exact time, but just prior to 9pm I think. Brief and slight house movement. No further shocks.

- Roger Johnston

clearly felt in Brightwater - 20km south of Nelson
- Matt Tyrie

- A Grice

We rock 'n & rollin for a few mins. Biggest I experience in Napier in 13 years. Phones down temporary. Couple of glasses fell outa cabinet otherwise no probs.

- The Thomsons of Napier

Really felt here in Turangi

- Dave and Ruth Alexander

Felt it quite strong here in Rotorua, had a swaying back and forth feel.
Just had a sip of wine and wondered how the alcohol could take effect and make me sway so quickly!! ha

Jodi & Mike

Yes we felt the quake here in Levin it was fairly gentle but quite long

- Joy townley

Hi team...we felt it!

House rocked but no damage - but quite scary.

- Geoff & Nicky, Cashmere, Christchurch

Yes we felt it quite strongly in Lower Hutt. Lasted for around 5-10 seconds. Could hear it coming before it hit.

- Sue Allen

Quite a shake on the Kapiti Coast

- Susannah and Kim

Stuff readers from around New Zealand report how the earthquake was felt in their part of the country.

Felt this quake in Hokitika as a gentle rocking motion lasting about 10 seconds.

- Tony Preston


Felt earthquake in Kaiapoi, 30k north of Christchurch. Fairly strong rocking motion - not sharp but definitely easily felt.

- Eileen Woolf


I live in Wellington and felt the quake quite strongly, I was sitting down on the telephone at the time, and all the glasses rattled in our cabinet. It seemed to jolt and then roll along for a while.

- Venise

Every one in theatre in the wellington hospital felt it!

- Callan Attwell (Capital and Coast District Health Board)

I am working on the second story of a building in downtown Nelson and I could feel the quake here.

It lasted only a few seconds, but the building was definitely in motion for those few seconds.

- Michael K. Lynch

Earthquake felt in Tauranga for about 1 minute...was considering getting the kids out of the house.

- Jeremy Hallinan

clearly felt in Brightwater - 20km south of Nelson.

- Matt Tyrie


Yeah. Felt it strongly in Blenheim too.

- Angela, Sean and Pat


Here in Silverstream, the earthquake was strongly felt where I was sitting in my conservatory. For a moment, I thought it was becoming unstable. Only lasted a short while. Lower down in Upper Hutt, alarms were activated by the earthquake.

- Mandy


Felt it. Was a long earthquake. Lights were swaying and there was strong shaking. I am located in Wellington. But 1855 (Wellington Earthquake), 1931 (Napier Earthquake) and 2007 (Gisbourne Earthquake) all have 76 years between them.

- David Mos


Yes, Hi, I felt it all the way down in Christchurch, although I was sitting very still at the time.

- Brendan Dyer

We are in Wanganui and felt this quite strongly. I as standing in my kitchen watching the house shake and rock thinking should I do something. The I noticed my husbands work van in driveway rocking about. Strongest one Ive felt, and we've lived all over NZ including southland and theres frequent ones down there, but not this big.

- Tracey

Here in Masterton, we felt it quite strongly. There was a rumble and a crack and then the house shook side to side for about 20 seconds, then continued shaking for at least 2 minutes. We knew it was either quite close to us, or quite a big one further away.

- Brenda Anderson