Magnitude 6.6 OFF EAST COAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, N.Z.
Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 07:55:16 UTC
News Release
The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 40 km (25 miles) SSW of Gisborne, New Zealand, 90 km (55 miles) NE of Napier, New Zealand, 355 km (220 miles) SE of Auckland, New Zealand, 360 km (225 miles) NE of WELLINGTON, New Zealand at 12:55 AM MST, Dec 20, 2007 (8:55 PM local time in New Zealand). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available.
One casualty due to heart attack. Three buildings collapsed, and others heavily damaged at Gisborne. Power lines were down in some areas, and damage to one of Gisborne's main roads. Felt (VII) at Gisborne; (IV) at Hastings, Napier, Tauranga and Whakatane; (III) at Kapiti, Lower Hutt, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Taupo, Te Puke, Upper Hutt and Wellington; (II) at Christchurch, Nelson and North Shore. Also felt at Auckland, Blenheim, Dannevirke, Levin, Marton, Opotiki, Otake, Porirua, Waipukurau and Wanganui.
Preliminary Earthquake Report
U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
World Data Center for Seismology, Denver
