infonews.co.nz
INDEX
EARTHQUAKES

Hastings District Fares Well After Big Shake

Tuesday 26 August 2008, 11:13AM

By Hastings District Council

508 views

HASTINGS

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.