Hastings District Fares Well After Big Shake

On first inspection it appears the earthquake which struck at 11.25 last night, measuring magnitude 5.9, has left little or no structural damage in the Hastings CBD.

Hastings District Council Senior Emergency Management Officer, Paul Hawke, says the true effects of the shake, and the subsequent aftershock of magnitude 3.5, won’t be known until business and home owners have had a chance to inspect their properties.

One home owner has reported a water pipe rupturing at his home in Mayfair, Hastings.

“Building inspectors have been checking buildings in the CBD and reports so far are that stock has been tipped off shelves in at least a few shops but there is no obvious damage to the buildings themselves,” Mr Hawke says.

“It seems the fault has sent the shock waves north from its epicentre near Bridge Pa, 10km south-west of Hastings CBD, and Taradale has borne the brunt of it."

Reports are Taradale had brief power and telecommunication outages and many households had small items falling over.

HDC Assets Engineer, Les Glock, says crews have been inspecting roads since the early hours of this morning and they have identified no structural damage or slips caused by the earthquake.

A bridge assessment is currently being carried out and is expected to be completed by lunchtime.

Hastings Mayor, Lawrence Yule, says this earthquake should serve as a sharp reminder to every household to be prepared for an emergency.

“This is the worst earthquake I’ve experienced. It’s given a lot of people a real fright but thankfully Hastings has come out of it relatively unscathed."

For advice on how to prepare survival kits and emergency plans go to Hawke’s Bay’s own website www.hbemergency.govt.nz or the national Civil Defence site www.getthru.govt.nz.

ENDS

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