4 July 2012

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence and Emergency Management Media Release

Last Night’s Quake Timely Reminder To Be Prepared
Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group says last night’s long rolling earthquake is the type of shake that can trigger a tsunami.

The magnitude 7.0 quake, which hit at 10.36 last night, was centred 60 kilometres south of Opunake, in Taranaki region, at a depth of 230 kilometres. It lasted more than 45 seconds and people described hanging on to doorways and diving for cover.

Hawke’s Bay CDEM Group Emergency Management Coordinator, Lisa Pearse, says being felt in Hawke’s Bay as a weak, long rolling motion with a long duration she knew it was a large quake some distance away with the potential to generate a tsunami.

“People living on or near the coast should know that if a relatively weak, rolling earthquake hits and is of unusually long duration, like a minute or more they should evacuate to higher ground,” says Ms Pearse.

She says in the past it has taken more than 20 minutes before earthquake information comes through from official sources like Geonet, but its new rapid technology for internet and smart phones delivered information about last night’s quake within a couple of minutes.

“Because the quake was less than a minute and on the other side of the island we could quickly conclude it was safe to stay near the coast.”

Lisa Pearse says last night’s quake is another physical reminder to be prepared for something larger. For details on being prepared visit www.gethru.govt.nz where people can also register to take part in New Zealand ShakeOut, a national earthquake drill on the 9:26am 26 September (9:26-26:9).

ENDS

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