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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/nov/15/new-zealand-earthquake-floods-wellington-kaikoura
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| New Zealand earthquake: up to 100,000 landslides amid aftershocks – live | New Zealand earthquake: up to 100,000 landslides amid aftershocks – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.50am GMT | |
| 05:50 | |
| Wellington’s Molesworth Street – in the central business district and just round the corner from the NZ parliament – remains closed amid fears a building could collapse. | |
| Local reports suggest the building in question is 61 Molesworth Street, an eight-storey office block currently advertising space for lease. | |
| That ad describes it as: | |
| An 8-level office tower to be extensively refurbished and strengthened to 100% NBS [New Building Standard]. | |
| Lift block separating from main building pic.twitter.com/XCq3Sb3mGx | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.02am GMT | |
| 5.30am GMT | 5.30am GMT |
| 05:30 | 05:30 |
| Bonnie Malkin | Bonnie Malkin |
| John Key, the New Zealand prime minister, missed a call from US president-elect Donald Trump while dealing with the aftermath of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday. | John Key, the New Zealand prime minister, missed a call from US president-elect Donald Trump while dealing with the aftermath of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday. |
| Trump was calling Key as part of his first phase of reaching out to world leaders during his transition to the White House. | Trump was calling Key as part of his first phase of reaching out to world leaders during his transition to the White House. |
| Trump’s office set up the call with Key in advance, but the prime minster was caught up with the fallout from the natural disaster and missed the phone call. | Trump’s office set up the call with Key in advance, but the prime minster was caught up with the fallout from the natural disaster and missed the phone call. |
| Key explained the diplomatic faux pas to the New Zealand Herald: | Key explained the diplomatic faux pas to the New Zealand Herald: |
| What happened was there was a bit of a discussion between my office and his office on the Saturday about a call. | What happened was there was a bit of a discussion between my office and his office on the Saturday about a call. |
| We weren’t strictly sure when the president-elect was going to ring, they said it was in the next couple of hours. | We weren’t strictly sure when the president-elect was going to ring, they said it was in the next couple of hours. |
| I didn’t see the call when it came in, in the hurly burly of things I didn’t notice. | I didn’t see the call when it came in, in the hurly burly of things I didn’t notice. |
| They then made contact with our foreign affairs people and and said they had tried to call and hadn’t been successful. | They then made contact with our foreign affairs people and and said they had tried to call and hadn’t been successful. |
| Key said another call had been set up for Wednesday. | Key said another call had been set up for Wednesday. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.30am GMT | at 5.30am GMT |
| 5.17am GMT | 5.17am GMT |
| 05:17 | 05:17 |
| Tuesday: 313 quakes in 12 hours | Tuesday: 313 quakes in 12 hours |
| Geonet reports that in the 12 hours from 6am to 6pm on Tuesday, there were 313 quakes across New Zealand, concentrated around that vulnerable north-eastern area of the South Island. | Geonet reports that in the 12 hours from 6am to 6pm on Tuesday, there were 313 quakes across New Zealand, concentrated around that vulnerable north-eastern area of the South Island. |
| That took the total number of earthquakes since the mainshock on Monday to 1,212. | That took the total number of earthquakes since the mainshock on Monday to 1,212. |
| 6 pm update: 25 eqs in the last hour, 313 eqs since 6 am today and 1212 eqs since the M7.5. Kaikoura Earthquake. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/wCwmZYHBzb | 6 pm update: 25 eqs in the last hour, 313 eqs since 6 am today and 1212 eqs since the M7.5. Kaikoura Earthquake. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/wCwmZYHBzb |
| There has since been another strong aftershock close to Kaikoura: | There has since been another strong aftershock close to Kaikoura: |
| M5.2 quake causing strong shaking near Kaikoura https://t.co/Ml0kwivWm0 | M5.2 quake causing strong shaking near Kaikoura https://t.co/Ml0kwivWm0 |
| 5.11am GMT | 5.11am GMT |
| 05:11 | 05:11 |
| Magnitude 7.5 or 7.8? | Magnitude 7.5 or 7.8? |
| Reports have varied on the strength of the initial quake that struck shortly after midnight on Monday morning. | Reports have varied on the strength of the initial quake that struck shortly after midnight on Monday morning. |
| New Zealand’s own monitoring service, Geonet, has measured the earthquake as magnitude 7.5 (and that’s what we at the Guardian have decided to use in our reporting for now). | New Zealand’s own monitoring service, Geonet, has measured the earthquake as magnitude 7.5 (and that’s what we at the Guardian have decided to use in our reporting for now). |
| But other monitors, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS), have it at 7.8. | But other monitors, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS), have it at 7.8. |
| Here’s how Geonet describes the discrepancy: | Here’s how Geonet describes the discrepancy: |
| Why were our magnitudes different from the USGS: About magnitude variability | Why were our magnitudes different from the USGS: About magnitude variability |
| We have currently established that the New Zealand local magnitude for this earthquake is 7.5, but this may be reviewed over time when more detailed research is undertaken. This may bring it closer to the internationally-derived value (e.g. Mw7.8 by the US Geological Survey). | We have currently established that the New Zealand local magnitude for this earthquake is 7.5, but this may be reviewed over time when more detailed research is undertaken. This may bring it closer to the internationally-derived value (e.g. Mw7.8 by the US Geological Survey). |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.12am GMT | at 5.12am GMT |
| 5.01am GMT | 5.01am GMT |
| 05:01 | 05:01 |
| The headquarters of the New Zealand Red Cross are right next to the building in Wellington that is threatening to collapse – and staff have now been evacuated: | The headquarters of the New Zealand Red Cross are right next to the building in Wellington that is threatening to collapse – and staff have now been evacuated: |
| The @NZRedCross HQ in Wellington has been immediately evacuated. The building next door collapsing and in danger of falling on us #eqnz 1/2 pic.twitter.com/gF5rGIaSmG | The @NZRedCross HQ in Wellington has been immediately evacuated. The building next door collapsing and in danger of falling on us #eqnz 1/2 pic.twitter.com/gF5rGIaSmG |
| About 50 Red Cross personnel are working in Kaikoura and Marlborough, with workers also helping those stranded by flooding in the Wellington region. | About 50 Red Cross personnel are working in Kaikoura and Marlborough, with workers also helping those stranded by flooding in the Wellington region. |
| 4.55am GMT | 4.55am GMT |
| 04:55 | 04:55 |
| Sarah Stuart-Black, director of civil defence, has just been briefing the media on the latest information from the ministry of civil defence and emergency management (MCDEM). | Sarah Stuart-Black, director of civil defence, has just been briefing the media on the latest information from the ministry of civil defence and emergency management (MCDEM). |
| Staff from local CDEM groups in Kaikoura, Hurunui and Marlborough and other affected communities … by night, they’re going to be going door to door to check on households. | Staff from local CDEM groups in Kaikoura, Hurunui and Marlborough and other affected communities … by night, they’re going to be going door to door to check on households. |
| The national relief effort is continuing, she said, targetting the worst affected areas: | The national relief effort is continuing, she said, targetting the worst affected areas: |
| Food, water and fuel are required in Kaikoura, Hurunui and Marlborough. | Food, water and fuel are required in Kaikoura, Hurunui and Marlborough. |
| But she said there would be coordinated efforts to get support into areas other than Kaikoura, and that local agencies want to hear from “communities we may not have reached”. | But she said there would be coordinated efforts to get support into areas other than Kaikoura, and that local agencies want to hear from “communities we may not have reached”. |
| Over 130 people have now been evacuated from Kaikoura, with rescue efforts continuing. | Over 130 people have now been evacuated from Kaikoura, with rescue efforts continuing. |
| Severe weather in Wellington aside, Stuart-Black said: | Severe weather in Wellington aside, Stuart-Black said: |
| The rest of New Zealand is still operating as usual. | The rest of New Zealand is still operating as usual. |
| However, she asked that New Zealanders (and visitors) respect local advice and prepare for aftershocks, adding: | However, she asked that New Zealanders (and visitors) respect local advice and prepare for aftershocks, adding: |
| We urge caution about approaching buildings that have been damaged. | We urge caution about approaching buildings that have been damaged. |
| She did not have specific details on the city centre building currently thought to be at risk of collapse in Wellington. | She did not have specific details on the city centre building currently thought to be at risk of collapse in Wellington. |
| 4.34am GMT | 4.34am GMT |
| 04:34 | 04:34 |
| Here’s a closer view of that Wellington high-rise – the surrounding area has been evacuated over fears the building is unstable and could collapse: | Here’s a closer view of that Wellington high-rise – the surrounding area has been evacuated over fears the building is unstable and could collapse: |
| Just got stopped by police on Molesworth St Wellington with a building's glass facade about to peel off. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/kRZ3Z3gqC9 | Just got stopped by police on Molesworth St Wellington with a building's glass facade about to peel off. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/kRZ3Z3gqC9 |
| 4.25am GMT | 4.25am GMT |
| 04:25 | 04:25 |
| A section of Wellington’s central business district close to the parliament has been cordoned off amid fears a high-rise building there is at risk of collapse. | A section of Wellington’s central business district close to the parliament has been cordoned off amid fears a high-rise building there is at risk of collapse. |
| Molesworth Street has been closed, and nearby buildings evacuated. | Molesworth Street has been closed, and nearby buildings evacuated. |
| Engineers are currently assessing the building. | Engineers are currently assessing the building. |
| A cordon has been set around this Wellington building amid concerns it could collapse. Molesworth St closed too pic.twitter.com/Piws1v4a1k | A cordon has been set around this Wellington building amid concerns it could collapse. Molesworth St closed too pic.twitter.com/Piws1v4a1k |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.28am GMT | at 4.28am GMT |
| 4.18am GMT | 4.18am GMT |
| 04:18 | 04:18 |
| State of emergency declared in Canterbury | State of emergency declared in Canterbury |
| The civil defence emergency management group for Canterbury – which covers the stranded town of Kaikoura – declared a state of emergency on Tuesday afternoon. | The civil defence emergency management group for Canterbury – which covers the stranded town of Kaikoura – declared a state of emergency on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Lianne Dalziel, mayor of Christchurch, said: | Lianne Dalziel, mayor of Christchurch, said: |
| Canterbury Mayors are united in their support for the people of Hurunui [district] and Kaikoura and we believe by declaring a state of local emergency in Canterbury we are in better position to coordinate support across the region. | Canterbury Mayors are united in their support for the people of Hurunui [district] and Kaikoura and we believe by declaring a state of local emergency in Canterbury we are in better position to coordinate support across the region. |
| 4.13am GMT | 4.13am GMT |
| 04:13 | 04:13 |
| Wellington’s Westpac stadium has confirmed that, although it has suffered no major structural damage, some repairs are needed and this Saturday’s A-league game will be postponed. | Wellington’s Westpac stadium has confirmed that, although it has suffered no major structural damage, some repairs are needed and this Saturday’s A-league game will be postponed. |
| A statement on its website said: | A statement on its website said: |
| Following a detailed engineering assessment, Westpac stadium has been cleared of major structural damage. The stadium closed its doors yesterday as a precautionary measure following the Kaikoura 7.5 earthquake early on Monday morning. | Following a detailed engineering assessment, Westpac stadium has been cleared of major structural damage. The stadium closed its doors yesterday as a precautionary measure following the Kaikoura 7.5 earthquake early on Monday morning. |
| Stadium offices, and the ground level of the public car park, reopened on Tuesday. However the internal concourse and seating bowl remain closed until repairs have been completed. These repairs are expected to take two weeks to complete. | Stadium offices, and the ground level of the public car park, reopened on Tuesday. However the internal concourse and seating bowl remain closed until repairs have been completed. These repairs are expected to take two weeks to complete. |
| As a result, Football Federation of Australia in consultation with the Wellington Phoenix and the stadium, has made the decision to postpone this weekend’s A-league fixture between [Wellington] Phoenix and Melbourne Victory … | As a result, Football Federation of Australia in consultation with the Wellington Phoenix and the stadium, has made the decision to postpone this weekend’s A-league fixture between [Wellington] Phoenix and Melbourne Victory … |
| Damage included burst water pipes, concrete cracking and spalling, broken windows and some liquefaction on the stadium ring road. The mezzanine level car park will remain closed until repairs are conducted on the car park up-ramp. | Damage included burst water pipes, concrete cracking and spalling, broken windows and some liquefaction on the stadium ring road. The mezzanine level car park will remain closed until repairs are conducted on the car park up-ramp. |
| 4.02am GMT | 4.02am GMT |
| 04:02 | 04:02 |
| Reuters reports that China is taking its own steps to evacuate some of its citizens from stricken Kaikoura: | Reuters reports that China is taking its own steps to evacuate some of its citizens from stricken Kaikoura: |
| China chartered four helicopters to evacuate around 40 nationals, mostly elderly and children, from Kaikoura late on Monday, said Liu Lian, an official at the Chinese consulate in Christchurch. | China chartered four helicopters to evacuate around 40 nationals, mostly elderly and children, from Kaikoura late on Monday, said Liu Lian, an official at the Chinese consulate in Christchurch. |
| One Chinese national had been treated for a minor head injury in Kaikoura’s hospital, Liu said, and around 60 others would be evacuated on Tuesday. | One Chinese national had been treated for a minor head injury in Kaikoura’s hospital, Liu said, and around 60 others would be evacuated on Tuesday. |
| “They have been trapped in Kaikoura for a couple of days, some are maybe scared, they have some mental stress,” Liu told Reuters. Many planned to continue journeys to other parts of New Zealand, Liu said. | “They have been trapped in Kaikoura for a couple of days, some are maybe scared, they have some mental stress,” Liu told Reuters. Many planned to continue journeys to other parts of New Zealand, Liu said. |
| 3.53am GMT | 3.53am GMT |
| 03:53 | 03:53 |
| Reader Sophie Gale, from Somerset, UK, emails to say that she and her partner Ben were holidaying in Wellington when the first quakes began: | Reader Sophie Gale, from Somerset, UK, emails to say that she and her partner Ben were holidaying in Wellington when the first quakes began: |
| We are currently staying at the Amora hotel on the seventh floor. I woke up at midnight local time last night as I felt a slight tremor. By the time I woke Ben up, the room was really beginning to shake. | We are currently staying at the Amora hotel on the seventh floor. I woke up at midnight local time last night as I felt a slight tremor. By the time I woke Ben up, the room was really beginning to shake. |
| He went to the window to look outside and as soon as he crossed the room the full brunt of the earthquake hit and he was thrown across the room. The noise from the earthquake was indescribable, it was incredibly loud, at the same time we could also see bright white flashes outside from power lines being ripped apart. It lasted 30 seconds but it felt a lot longer. | He went to the window to look outside and as soon as he crossed the room the full brunt of the earthquake hit and he was thrown across the room. The noise from the earthquake was indescribable, it was incredibly loud, at the same time we could also see bright white flashes outside from power lines being ripped apart. It lasted 30 seconds but it felt a lot longer. |
| We ran down the emergency exit and it felt like something out of a movie: ceilings were falling down, cracks were rapidly appearing in the walls and the water pipes had burst so water was pouring down from the ceilings and flooding the corridors. The hotel staff were brilliant and we all sat outside waiting for the all-clear. | We ran down the emergency exit and it felt like something out of a movie: ceilings were falling down, cracks were rapidly appearing in the walls and the water pipes had burst so water was pouring down from the ceilings and flooding the corridors. The hotel staff were brilliant and we all sat outside waiting for the all-clear. |
| Once outside, the tsunami siren starting ringing. A lot of people fled to Mount Victoria but this caused gridlock on the roads. We were given the all-clear to go back into the building at 3am, thinking we would be relatively safe on the seventh floor if a tsunami was to hit. | Once outside, the tsunami siren starting ringing. A lot of people fled to Mount Victoria but this caused gridlock on the roads. We were given the all-clear to go back into the building at 3am, thinking we would be relatively safe on the seventh floor if a tsunami was to hit. |
| Since then, we have felt eight major aftershocks, all ranging from about 5.7- 6.6. The hotel shakes and sways and the CBD in Wellington looks like a ghost town. | Since then, we have felt eight major aftershocks, all ranging from about 5.7- 6.6. The hotel shakes and sways and the CBD in Wellington looks like a ghost town. |
| We were having dinner when a 6.5 hit at 8.15pm local time. Seeing the restaurant and the high street outside swaying is something I will never forget. We haven’t been able to leave Wellington as our car is trapped in a car park which is waiting to be assessed before we are allowed to gain access. The front of the car park has collapsed. | We were having dinner when a 6.5 hit at 8.15pm local time. Seeing the restaurant and the high street outside swaying is something I will never forget. We haven’t been able to leave Wellington as our car is trapped in a car park which is waiting to be assessed before we are allowed to gain access. The front of the car park has collapsed. |
| We were meant to be going over to Picton today but the ferries have stopped as the ports have sustained major damage. | We were meant to be going over to Picton today but the ferries have stopped as the ports have sustained major damage. |
| The most amazing thing is that for such a powerful earthquake, the damage caused is very minimal compared to the Christchurch earthquake 2011. We woke up expecting devastation. Everybody has been extremely lucky. | The most amazing thing is that for such a powerful earthquake, the damage caused is very minimal compared to the Christchurch earthquake 2011. We woke up expecting devastation. Everybody has been extremely lucky. |