GeoNet revised it's initial estimate of the Kaikoura earthquake from M7.5 to M7.8 | Inland Road was opened and then closed again after Tuesday's (November 22) M5.7 aftershock | Government announced an Earthquake support package; some of the buildings in Wellington's CBD would be brought down | international naval ships helped in relief efforts
First things first. An almost 2 minutes long earthquake that struck 15 km north-east of Culverden at 12:02 a.m., Monday, November 14, in North Canterbury, is now classified as of magnitude 7.8. GeoNet confirmed this on November 16, adding, “Based on our findings and in discussion with international researchers, early indications are that this is one of the most complex earthquakes ever recorded on land.
The very long time it took for the faults to rupture (over one minute) meant that the standard methods of calculating magnitude were insufficient to capture the full energy released. Due to the size of the quakes, we’ve gathered data from our entire network of seismic stations. All of these stations would not generally need to be included in magnitude estimates. Further, our techs at GeoNet went out to several sites which we lost communication with. Based on all these ongoing efforts, we can say with some confidence that the earthquake was an M7.8. This is consistent with estimates from several other international agencies.”
The November 14 earthquake is now officially bigger than the Napier earthquake of 1931. According to GNS Science, the earthquake has caused the earth to move two metres to the north near the Marlborough region.
With almost a week gone, authorities have now been able to gauge the destruction that the M7.8 earthquake and its aftershocks have caused in the upper South Island. The effects were widespread over an area of 7,000 km2 with estimates that there has been between 80,000 to 100,000 landslides. Moreover, seven landslide dams have been found in the Southern Kaikoura Ranges and people have been advised to stay away from steep cliffs and slopes in the Kaikoura and Marlborough region.
As reported earlier, the quake has claimed two lives. One person was killed when a Kaikoura homestead collapsed, while another died of a heart attack in Mount Lyford, 150km from Christchurch.
Major damage was caused in Kaikoura, and the town and it's surrounding areas were completely cut-off from rest of the country by land. State Highway 1 was closed, and if statements by the Transport Minister is anything to go by, can remain so for the next six months.
Subsequently, an inland road link – State Highway 70 - was reopened, bringing in army convoys with relief materials.
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Though on Tuesday, November 22, a powerful aftershock of 5.7 magnitude struck the region again, and the Kaikoura Emergency Access Route (SH 70) remains closed to the public. [at the time of printing] |
After being stranded for two days, some 450 evacuees, four dogs and seven tonnes of luggage were taken to Christchurch by Navy's HMNZS Canterbury. NZ Defence Force also used its helicopters to airlift 165 evacuees to safety. About 8,000 kgs of food and 5,000 litres of water were also delivered to residents remaining in Kaikoura. In all, the NZDF mobilised about 500 personnel, at least 11 aircraft and four vessels to support the Government’s earthquake response.
Warships from Australia, Canada and the United States - HMAS Darwin, HMCS Vancouver and USS Sampson - which were in the country to take part in the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary, were re-tasked to support the national relief effort.
In other efforts, Federated Farmers has opened their line to offers of help for affected farmers on 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646). The local state of emergency that has been in place in Canterbury for the past week has been extended for another seven days. The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has also notified that anyone who has suffered any damage to their home, land or contents from all the shakes, has three months to lodge a claim with the EQC.
There has also been some criticism that the tsunami warning was issued by the Christchurch Civil Defence and Emergency Management on Monday morning at around 3.15am – almost three hours after the quake. To this Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel urged the coastal residents to have an evacuation plan.
“If the city was hit by a large earthquake that was strong enough to make it difficult to stand or to walk in a straight line, or by a rolling earthquake that lasted for more than a minute, people along the coast should not wait for the tsunami sirens to sound before getting out of the area. They should immediately head for higher ground, preferably going inland until they are outside the evacuation zone. People need to have an evacuation plan. Get together with your neighbours and come up with a plan for how you would alert each other and help each other to get out of the area,’’ she said.
In fact, GeoNet's director Ken Gledhill came out in defence of his organisation noting that GeoNet can't give tsunami warning as quickly and accurately as possible because it was not staffed overnight or on weekends. A suggestion not taken too kindly by the acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee, calling Gledhill's comments as “unreasonable criticism”.
Owing to the November 14th powerful M7.8 Earthquake, several buildings in the capital city of Wellington also suffered extensive damage, with many declared a write-off and would have to be brought down soon.
New Zealand Defence Force's headquarters at Aitken Street, British High Commission, Statistics House - headquarters of Statistics NZ on Harbour Quays, the retailer Farmers building at Cuba Street, BNZ headquarters, Katherine Mansfield House, apartment building at 25 Tennyson Street, the High Court building, Greater Wellington Regional Council building, Wellington City Council building at Civic Square, Archives NZ building, Environment House, and Customs Head Office, are some of the building closed at the time of printing with engineers continuing to assess the damage.
Notably, it has been decided to de-construct the office building at 61 Molesworth Street as it has been found to be too structurally damaged to repair.
Meanwhile, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley announced on November 22 that the wage subsidy package for small businesses in and around Kaikoura [announced on November 18] would be extended to larger businesses in the district as well. The employment subsidy will now be available for all companies in Kaikoura, Cheviot, Waiau, Rotherham, Mt Lyford and Ward that experience a sudden, large and sustained drop in revenue as a result of the earthquake.
The scheme will be administered by the Ministry of Social Development, with support from the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise North Canterbury, and the Kaikoura and Hurunui and Marlborough District Councils.
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The Earthquake Support Subsidy will not be subject to GST and will cover up to eight weeks at a rate of: $500 gross per week for a full-time employee ($4,000 per person) $300 gross per week for a part-time employee ($2,400 per person) |
This measure will be complemented by other programmes, including the Government’s primary sector support package and the tax relief measures.
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The support package for the primary sector funding of at least $5 million around the upper South Island includes: $4 million for Mayoral Disaster Rural Relief funds (Hurunui, Kaikoura and Marlborough) to help with non-insurable assets such as tracks, on-farm bridges and water infrastructure $500,000 to support Rural Recovery Coordinators in the Hurunui, Kaikoura and Marlborough Districts $500,000 extra funding for Rural Support Trusts $200,000 per month to mobilise and support skilled primary industry students and workers for farm recovery work Rural Assistance Payments (RAPs) from Work and Income NZ - emergency payments for farmers in real hardship. |
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Tax relief measures Inland Revenue will waive the use of money interest when a person is prevented from paying on time as a result of the recent earthquakes. This applies to all late tax payments and at this stage, is scheduled to expire on 31 January. |
[Updated as on noon, November 23]