New Zealand on shakie ground.

[Kiwi]

New Zealand feels large earthquake   
Big News Network.com     Thursday 20th December, 2007   

A strong earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale has rocked New Zealand.

The quake was centred 50 kilometres south-east of Gisborne, on the east coast of the North Island, and tremors could be felt nearly 900 kilometres away in the South Island.

It is not clear if anyone was injured.

New Zealand police said they had received reports of major damage in many centres after the earthquake.

They say holes were ripped in the streets of Gisborne and some parts of buildings have collapsed.

The earthquake was felt strongly in Wellington, Bleheim and Nelson and tremors were reported further down the South Island including Christchurch, Dunedin and Hokitika on the west coast.

Seismologists record about 14,000 earthquakes a year in and around New Zealand, and about 100 to 150 of them are big enough to be felt.

[Kiwi]

Emergency declared in New Zealand   
Big News Network.com     Thursday 20th December, 2007   

Due to extensive damage from a powerful earthquake in New Zealand on Thursday, authorities in the country have declared a civil defence emergency in Gisborne.

Power, phones, gas and water were immediately cut due to damage caused by the earthquake.

Half a dozen older buildings in the centre of Gisborne suffered extensive damage and civil defence teams are now checking for structural damage while a cordon remains in place around the central city.

Around a dozen people have been treated for minor injuries.

Seismologists say the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 and was centred 50 kilometres south-east of Gisborne and deep below the ocean floor.

It was felt in most parts of New Zealand.

The undersea quake struck just as shops were about to close after Christmas shopping and triggered panic as thousands fled inland fearing a tsunami.

Scientists have since confirmed that the quake, one of the most powerful to hit New Zealand in recent years, was not big enough to have created a damaging tsunami.