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New Zealand earthquake: two dead as tsunami threat passes – live New Zealand earthquake: two dead as tsunami threat passes – live
(35 minutes later)
11.53pm GMT
23:53
The latest weather forecast includes rain and severe gale warnings, all of which could hamper rescue efforts.
Here's those warnings for the wind and rain expected this evening as two images. Keep safe out there. https://t.co/Sd5C6lrsSL ^TA pic.twitter.com/aonTurUWzb
Updated
at 11.55pm GMT
11.50pm GMT
23:50
'Like a massive firework display'
Nathaniel Ballard was in Hamilton, in the top of the North Island, when the quake hit. He sent in this description:
We felt the quake all the way up here in the North. Our house was rocking and all electricity was lost. Every transformer surrounding our neighbourhood literally blew up. It was like a massive fireworks display. Definitely spooky as we’ve never experienced an earthquake before .
Neighbours were all outside at 12.30am scared and hugging each other. Fortunately nobody was hurt near us but still quite terrifying.
11.45pm GMT
23:45
This house is situated right on the Kekerengu fault line, near Kaikoura.
A house at Bluff Station btw Blenheim & Kaikoura. Right on the Kekerengu fault line. Sue Murray says Simon, a farm worker was in the house pic.twitter.com/n1gxBJqX8s
11.41pm GMT
23:41
Fears over swelling Clarence River
Eleanor Ainge Roy reports that the Clarence River in South Island has had a major landslip and is rapidly swelling. There is a threat to farms downstream if it bursts.
#BREAKING: Dart Stream, which flows from Clarence River in the Kaikoura District, is blocked #eqnz (Photo: NZ Herald) pic.twitter.com/uCzWAfqYf0
#Kaikoura There is a landslide blocking the Clarence River near Dart Stream with a large volume of water behind it. Please keep clear.
11.39pm GMT
23:39
Images are emerging of the extensive damage to roads resulting from the quake. This photograph was taken near Oaro, south of Kaikoura.
11.36pm GMT
23:36
Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has joined the rescue effort.
All Blacks great Richie McCaw has joined the deadly earthquake rescue efforts #EQNZ https://t.co/AmhsoknJoq pic.twitter.com/DOgraVrTL1
11.33pm GMT
23:33
A tsunami warning is still in place for some marine areas and beaches.
The marine and beach tsunami threat warning remains in place for Wellington to Bank Peninsula#eqnzhttps://t.co/JRkjCodKqg pic.twitter.com/J3rc1LzTI0
11.28pm GMT
23:28
Reports of looting
Sadly, there have been reports of looting in the aftermath of the quake.
New Zealand’s Newshub website reported that a Christchurch family who fled their home after the earthquake returned hours later to find they had been been robbed.
They’ve just ransacked the house, it’s horrible, it’s terrible,” said Melissa Mill.[We’re] pretty shaken, pretty disgusted, disheartened.”
11.22pm GMT
23:22
Wellington a 'ghost town'
Witnesses have described the capital as a “ghost town” after authorities warned people to stay away from Wellington.
#eqnz this is at my brothers flat down Victoria street in Wellington #quake #RNZ pic.twitter.com/gqZnlEeNkB
11.21pm GMT
23:21
A little bit of news that might cheer up students in the wake of the earthquake - some school exams have been postponed.
Kristine Kilkelly, the New Zealand Qualifcations Authority chief executive, has said high school scholarship exams have been cancelled. National high school examinations will go ahead in schools that were unaffected by the earthquakes, she said.NZQA said students from schools that were closed would be able to resit exams, but schools could also apply for grades to be assessed based on the results of their trial exams. NCEA exams will continue as normal for all schools unaffected by Monday’s earthquakes.
11.18pm GMT11.18pm GMT
23:1823:18
Red Cross 'struggling to get relief workers in'Red Cross 'struggling to get relief workers in'
Andrew McKie, spokesman for the Red Cross, has said the organisation is struggling to get relief workers into affected regions. There were about 50 volunteers on standby with equipment trying to get into the area, he said. A disaster relief team from Blenheim has arrived and a team from Nelson was also on its way.Andrew McKie, spokesman for the Red Cross, has said the organisation is struggling to get relief workers into affected regions. There were about 50 volunteers on standby with equipment trying to get into the area, he said. A disaster relief team from Blenheim has arrived and a team from Nelson was also on its way.
11.16pm GMT11.16pm GMT
23:1623:16
Hello, I am picking up the blog from Michael as New Zealand continues to count the cost of the latest severe South Island earthquake. Hello, I am picking up the blog from Michael as New Zealand continues to count the cost of its latest severe earthquake.
A little update on transport problems caused by the quake:A little update on transport problems caused by the quake:
Ferry and rail line updates #eqnz pic.twitter.com/AFbyyUuGZFFerry and rail line updates #eqnz pic.twitter.com/AFbyyUuGZF
Images of rail lines in the affected area show some of the problems with getting trains through.
Railway crossing.#EQNZ pic.twitter.com/uJaGYYUQm3
Kekerengu fault - very clear rupture here pic.twitter.com/zPBg3I6Eaf
Updated
at 11.24pm GMT
11.09pm GMT11.09pm GMT
23:0923:09
I’m about to hand over to my colleague Bonnie Malkin. Before I go, here’s what we know so far.I’m about to hand over to my colleague Bonnie Malkin. Before I go, here’s what we know so far.
10.59pm GMT10.59pm GMT
22:5922:59
PM John Key confirms two people have died in the quake.PM John Key confirms two people have died in the quake.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.08pm GMTat 11.08pm GMT
10.57pm GMT10.57pm GMT
22:5722:57
I just got this report in from a colleague in New Zealand: I just got this report in from a colleague in New Zealand. Felicity Perry from Melbourne, Australia is visiting her mother near Wellington.
Felicity Perry from Melbourne, Australia is visiting her mother near Wellington. I woke up and thought okay it’s an earthquake and stayed in bed, but it kept going and things started falling off walls.
“I woke up and thought okay it’s an earthquake and stayed in bed, but it kept going and things started falling off walls.” A cast iron pan flew from the back of stove onto the floor. I dived out of the bed, and starting holding on to doorway and screaming out for my sister. Growing up with earthquakes you learn to deal with them, but this was the scariest earthquake I have experienced.”
A cast iron pan flew from the back of stove onto the floor. Her mother Glynis was in Hutt Hospital, housed in a building from the 1970s. She says it moved from side to side. Glynis was barely able to move as she’d had major surgery. She was on the fourth floor, but mustered all her strength to crawl from her bed.
“I dived out of the bed, and starting holding on to doorway and screaming out for my sister.”
She says she has never been that scared.
“Growing up with earthquakes you learn to deal with them, but this was the scariest earthquake I have experienced.”
Her mother Glynis was in Hutt Hospital, housed in a building from the 1970s. She says it moved from side to side.
Glynis was barely able to move as she’d had major surgery.
She was on the fourth floor, but mustered all her strength to crawl from her bed.
Today there’s a major crack on the wall of the hospital, engineers have been walking around assessing the damage.Today there’s a major crack on the wall of the hospital, engineers have been walking around assessing the damage.
Felicity Perry described the roads around the Hutt Valley as being crazy as people fled Wellington heading for higher ground and hilly areas.Felicity Perry described the roads around the Hutt Valley as being crazy as people fled Wellington heading for higher ground and hilly areas.
Updated
at 11.24pm GMT
10.49pm GMT10.49pm GMT
22:4922:49
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.52pm GMTat 10.52pm GMT
10.46pm GMT10.46pm GMT
22:4622:46
GNS Science has a graphic on their website showing a history of “notable” earthquakes in New Zealand since 1848.GNS Science has a graphic on their website showing a history of “notable” earthquakes in New Zealand since 1848.
Here's a graphic showing the previous 24 "notable" quakes in NZ since 1848, from GNS. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/GGG2F4AqZoHere's a graphic showing the previous 24 "notable" quakes in NZ since 1848, from GNS. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/GGG2F4AqZo
GNS also has this info on its site about the biggest-ever quake in New Zealand, which involved some astounding land movements:GNS also has this info on its site about the biggest-ever quake in New Zealand, which involved some astounding land movements:
The biggest NZ earthquake - magnitude 8.2 Wairarapa earthquake in 1855.The biggest NZ earthquake - magnitude 8.2 Wairarapa earthquake in 1855.
On an international scale, the 1855 earthquake is of major significance in terms of the area affected and the amount of fault movement. About 5000km2 of land was shifted vertically during the quake. The maximum uplift was 6.4m near Turakirae Head, east of Wellington. The maximum horizontal movement along the fault was about 18m. This is the largest displacement along a vertical fault line ever recorded!On an international scale, the 1855 earthquake is of major significance in terms of the area affected and the amount of fault movement. About 5000km2 of land was shifted vertically during the quake. The maximum uplift was 6.4m near Turakirae Head, east of Wellington. The maximum horizontal movement along the fault was about 18m. This is the largest displacement along a vertical fault line ever recorded!
10.34pm GMT
22:34
A press release from the New Zealand parliament confirms that prime minister John Key has postponed a trip to Argentina in the wake of the earthquakes.
Prime Minister John Key has today postponed his trip to Argentina, but intends to travel to Peru later this week to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 19-20 if circumstances permit.
Mr Key was scheduled to depart tomorrow for Buenos Aires, Argentina for a series of meetings aimed at strengthening New Zealand’s trade, economic and political ties with the region, before travelling to Lima to attend APEC.
As a result of last night’s earthquake, Mr Key has made the decision to postpone his visit to Argentina.
“The situation is still unfolding and we don’t yet know the full extent of the damage,” Mr Key says.
“I believe it is better that I remain in New Zealand in the coming days to offer my assistance and support until we have a better understanding of the event’s full impact.
“I want to thank Civil Defence and emergency services around the country who responded so rapidly, and also those New Zealanders who supported the large number of people who were evacuated.
“My officials have conveyed our apologies to the Argentine Government and I intend to call President Mauricio Macri in the next few days,” Mr Key says.
The decision on whether the trip to APEC will go ahead will be made later this week.
10.31pm GMT
22:31
Here are a few updates about the situation in various areas affected by the quakes, with thanks to colleagues in New Zealand who helped gather this:
Blenheim
Road from Blenheim to Picton is closed, Interislander ferry service between Picton and Wellington is not operating, with passengers stranded in both Picton and Wellington. Some traveller are staying inside the New Zealand Parliamentary buildings, in the beehive.
Emergency services are reporting they expect the ferry service to begin operations some time today.
Port Marlborough expecting to have Picton ferry terminal operational again today. No immediate return sailing: https://t.co/L0q626stvD
Kaikoura
Kaikoura, is cut off on both sides by large slips that have tumbled down the dramatic cliff faces along State Highway 1, the coastal highway.Adjacent to the coastal highway is a railway track that runs alongside the cliff, the force of the earthquake has lifted it up, toward the opposite side of the road and almost into the sea.Kaikoura is town on the east coast of the south Island of New Zealand, located on State Highway 1, 180km north of Christchurch. It has a population is about 2,000.Residents are still cut off from communication, with all mobile communication and emails down.
Wellington
The Wellington railway station has been closed and will undergo inspection due to the damage from the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
New Zealand’s Civil defence have advised people to stay off beaches and out of the water. They have advised people to stay indoors and not go sight seeing
10.26pm GMT
22:26
I just received this from a colleague in New Zealand:
Blenheim resident Chris Thoms, 60, was in bed In Blenheim with her husband when the earthquake struck.
“It started off slowly, and then escalated beyond anything we’ve ever felt. I held my husband’s hand and said ‘this is it, I think it’s all over’.”
She described what felt like severe sharp jolts, that threw items off shelves and from the cupboards throughout their houses.
Once the quake stopped, they left the house, stood on the streets with all their neighbours checking in with each other.
10.18pm GMT
22:18
Caroline Little from GeoNet in New Zealand said on Radio New Zealand the movement of parks of South Island 2 meters north was “pretty incredible”.
Here's the readings from Cape Campbell, showing how the ground there suddenly moved 2m after the quake. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/lpxkIbWQMG
Little said that while some of the major earthquakes in New Zealand over the past decade have involved a lot of vertical movement, this quake was dominated by horizontal movement.
10.02pm GMT
22:02
Here’s a little info about the history of quakes in this Northern part of South Island.
According the the US Geological Survey, this plate boundary has a large history of major quakes, but last night’s M 7.5 was the largest there since 1929.
In June 1929, there was a M 7.3 quake 100km to the northwest of last night’s quake. That event occurred just three months after another major quake just 90km west-southwest of last night’s.
And of course, around Christchurch, about 100km north of the new quake, there was a series of very damaging quakes between 2010 and 2015. That included a M 7.0 one west of Christchurch in September 2010, and another M 6.1 directly beneath the city in February 2011.
Updated
at 10.12pm GMT
9.44pm GMT
21:44
The US Geological Survey says the quakes occurred in a very complex tectonic region, making interpreting the exact nature of the quake hard to infer.
But it appeared to happen on or near the boundary between the Pacific and the Australian plate in South Island, New Zealand.
In that region, the Pacific plate moves at about 40mm southwest each year, into the Australian plate.
Earthquakes occur when tension built up by that movement is finally released, as the two plates slip past one another.
There is confusion about the nature of the quake, since the size, depth and structure of the quake suggests it occurred in a subduction zone but it wasn’t thought that a subduction zone extended into that area.
The US Geological Survey also confirms what we reported earlier, saying there could be more than one fault involved in the quakes.
Updated
at 9.56pm GMT
9.30pm GMT
21:30
Some of the images coming in of the land movement in Kaikoura are quite amazing. Here is one of Stuart Smith, the MP for Kaikoura, standing in a giant crack in a road.
Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith stands in a road destroyed by the quake #eqnz pic.twitter.com/nzh7lUIWXq
More photos from North Canterbury showing how the roads have stood up to the quake. 'Not well', apparently:#EQNZ pic.twitter.com/5vq5X9Crj6
Updated
at 9.33pm GMT
9.23pm GMT
21:23
There are now concerns about water in the affected regions, with farmers in Ward reporting they will have trouble keeping their stock watered.
And some residents are saying drinking water has gone murky.
Water in Ngaio Wellington has gone murky. Hopefully just a little sediment. #eqnz
The water supply in Raglan is still affected. Please conserve water. Only use for drinking. You do not need to boil it first.
Updated
at 9.46pm GMT
9.15pm GMT
21:15
If you are in any regions affected by the quakes in New Zealand and have photographs of damage, tweet them to me at @mikeyslezak and I’ll try to get them up on the liveblog.
9.11pm GMT
21:11
According to Kelvin Berryman from GNS Science, parts of New Zealand have moved 2 metres north as a result of the quakes. He said on Radio New Zealand GPS measurements at one of the northern measurements sites appeared to move about 2 metres after the quakes.