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| NZ clean-up after powerful quake | NZ clean-up after powerful quake |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Clean up operations are under way in the New Zealand city of Gisborne after a powerful earthquake damaged buildings and opened holes in roads. | Clean up operations are under way in the New Zealand city of Gisborne after a powerful earthquake damaged buildings and opened holes in roads. |
| No major injuries were reported after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake, which struck late on Thursday evening. | No major injuries were reported after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake, which struck late on Thursday evening. |
| But officials declared a state of emergency for the city, where three buildings collapsed and others suffered partial damage. | But officials declared a state of emergency for the city, where three buildings collapsed and others suffered partial damage. |
| Aftershocks were continuing to rock the city, on the North Island's east coast. | Aftershocks were continuing to rock the city, on the North Island's east coast. |
| The earthquake struck at 2055 local time (0755 GMT) about 50km (31 miles) off the coast. | The earthquake struck at 2055 local time (0755 GMT) about 50km (31 miles) off the coast. |
| It was felt across much of New Zealand, including in the capital, Wellington. | It was felt across much of New Zealand, including in the capital, Wellington. |
| 'Very frightening' | 'Very frightening' |
| Many Gisborne residents feared a tsunami and sought higher ground, but no warning was issued. | Many Gisborne residents feared a tsunami and sought higher ground, but no warning was issued. |
| Roofs and awnings were damaged in downtown Gisborne | Roofs and awnings were damaged in downtown Gisborne |
| Local resident Kathleen Munn told Radio New Zealand that she was terrified. | Local resident Kathleen Munn told Radio New Zealand that she was terrified. |
| "The books all jumped off the bookcase and the bottles all jumped off the table," she said. | "The books all jumped off the bookcase and the bottles all jumped off the table," she said. |
| "I thought the house was going to fall down. It was very, very frightening." | "I thought the house was going to fall down. It was very, very frightening." |
| Several small fires were reported in the aftermath and 11 people received minor injuries. | Several small fires were reported in the aftermath and 11 people received minor injuries. |
| An elderly woman died of a heart attack brought on, her family said, by the shock of the quake, reports from New Zealand said. | An elderly woman died of a heart attack brought on, her family said, by the shock of the quake, reports from New Zealand said. |
| Local officials said on Friday the damage was much worse than they had first thought, although most of it appeared to be limited mainly to older buildings. | Local officials said on Friday the damage was much worse than they had first thought, although most of it appeared to be limited mainly to older buildings. |
| "We've had three roof cave-ins or partial cave-ins overnight and there is substantial damage to some buildings," civil defence official Jon Davies told local media. | "We've had three roof cave-ins or partial cave-ins overnight and there is substantial damage to some buildings," civil defence official Jon Davies told local media. |
| "Other buildings have come away from it extremely well." | "Other buildings have come away from it extremely well." |
| New Zealand, caught between two major tectonic plates, experiences frequent earthquakes. | New Zealand, caught between two major tectonic plates, experiences frequent earthquakes. |
| Were you in the area during the earthquake? How have you been affected? Use the form below to send us your accounts. | |
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