2007 Gisborne earthquake

2007 Gisborne earthquake
Date 20 December 2007
Origin time 8:55 pm NZDT (UTC+13)
Magnitude 6.7 ML[1]
Depth 33 km (21 mi)
Epicenter 38°53′S 178°32′E / 38.89°S 178.54°ECoordinates: 38°53′S 178°32′E / 38.89°S 178.54°E
Areas affected New Zealand
Max. intensity VIII (Severe)
Peak acceleration 0.28 g
Casualties 1 dead, 11 injured

The 2007 Gisborne earthquake occurred under the Pacific Ocean about 50 kilometres (31 mi) off the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island at 8:55 pm NZDT on 20 December. The tremor had a Richter magnitude of 6.7 and maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), and affected the city of Gisborne, but was felt widely across the country from Auckland in the north to Dunedin in the south.[1]

Effects

Damage outside Health 2000 Main Street

While the earthquake was initially reported to have caused no deaths, an elderly woman in Gisborne suffered a heart attack and died shortly after the quake.[2]

A number of buildings in central Gisborne were damaged. The central business district was closed off to allow building inspectors to assess buildings for damage; three buildings had collapsed. There were blackouts immediately after the earthquake hit.[3] The town clock stopped at 8:55pm.[4]

As of 14 January 2008, the Earthquake Commission had received over 3100 insurance claims amounting to $16 million.[5] It was earlier estimated that the cost of damage caused by the earthquake could rise to $30 million.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 M 6.7, Gisborne, 20 December 2007. GeoNet.
  2. ↑ One dead, up to 20 injured after huge quake, The New Zealand Herald, 21 December 2007.
  3. ↑ Quake 6.8 magnitude hits east coast, TVNZ, 21 December 2007.
  4. ↑ 'Rattled Gisborne residents pick up the pieces after quake', 3News. 21 December 2007. Accessed 6 June 2009. Archived 10 June 2009.
  5. ↑ Recent events, EQC Insurance. Updated and accessed 14 January 2008.
  6. ↑ The $30m shockwave, 22 December 2007

External links