Residents spared as big quake rocks NZ
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale has caused little harm to people or property in the South Island of New Zealand.
The earthquake struck at 9.22pm at a depth of 12km last Wednesday, about 100 kilometres northwest of the Southland township of Tuatapere.
Its tremors were felt across the southern South Island, while an advisory from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre covered as far as Sydney and the southeast coast of Australia.
The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has received 677 claims from the quake at an estimated cost of $NZ1.35 million ($1.09 million), which was the same magnitude as a 1931 quake in Hawke’s Bay that killed 256 people and levelled much of the city of Napier.
Insurance Council of NZ CEO Chris Ryan told insuranceNEWS.com.au damage “seems to be very modest at present although there may be some delay in the claims coming in”.
Mr Ryan says damage was probably mitigated by the “rolling” nature of the quake rather than violent shaking, but continued aftershocks could result in further claims.
The earthquake struck at 9.22pm at a depth of 12km last Wednesday, about 100 kilometres northwest of the Southland township of Tuatapere.
Its tremors were felt across the southern South Island, while an advisory from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre covered as far as Sydney and the southeast coast of Australia.
The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has received 677 claims from the quake at an estimated cost of $NZ1.35 million ($1.09 million), which was the same magnitude as a 1931 quake in Hawke’s Bay that killed 256 people and levelled much of the city of Napier.
Insurance Council of NZ CEO Chris Ryan told insuranceNEWS.com.au damage “seems to be very modest at present although there may be some delay in the claims coming in”.
Mr Ryan says damage was probably mitigated by the “rolling” nature of the quake rather than violent shaking, but continued aftershocks could result in further claims.