NZ quake

[RoadRaven]

Well. We're ok.
I am just out of Napier, quite a bit south of Gisborne (about 4hours drive-time). We felt it big time here. We wondered if Mt Ruapehu (Lake Taupo, central North Island) was errupting. We have a weight machine (you know, like in a gym) on the deck and as i watched it rock back and forth I seriously wondered if it was going to tip off! The quake lasted about a minute here.

As for Gisborne... the quake was 6.8 on the Richter Scale and centred 50km off shore and only 40km deep - so almost right underneath the city!
... and a "state of emergency" has been declared in Gisborne

My daughter rang her bf whose family live in Gisborne and he had already been in touch with them and they had wondered if their house was going to fall down but they were ok.

In the news this morning (I am watching film now - hand held cameras and shop security footage) a couple of buildings have collapsed, many buildings are damaged - lost roofs, broken chimneys. Major damge to goods in shops with products strewn and broken on floors.

No deaths or serious injuries from it, although 15 people have been treated for minor cuts etc. All non-serious patients in hospital have been discharged as the hospital has sustained some damage as well.

Thank you for thinking of us DownUnder

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1320238/1517941
Brief story, but also video links on this page

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/423466/1517721