2007 Gisborne earthquake
{{Short description|Earthquake in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox earthquake
|title = 2007 Gisborne earthquake
|timestamp = 2007-12-20 07:55:15
|image=250px
|anss-url = usp000fuvt
|isc-event = 13293317
|local-date= {{start date text|20 December 2007|tz=yes}}
|local-time = 8:55 pm NZDT (UTC+13)
|map2 = {{Location map | New Zealand
| label =
| lat = -38.89
| long = 178.54
| mark = Bullseye1.png
| marksize = 40
| position = top
| width = 250
| float = center
| caption =
| relief = yes}}
| caption=Damage outside Health 2000 Main Street
|magnitude = 6.7 {{M|w|link=yes}}
|intensity = {{MMI|VII}}
|PGA = 0.28 g
|depth = {{convert|33|km|abbr=on}}
|engvar = en-UK
|location = {{coord|-38.89|178.54|display=inline,title|region:NZ_type:event}}
|countries affected = New Zealand
|casualties = 1 dead, 11 injured
}}
The 2007 Gisborne earthquake occurred under the Pacific Ocean about {{convert|50|km}} off the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island at 8:55 pm NZDT on 20 December. With a moment magnitude of 6.7 and maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very Strong), the tremor affected the city of Gisborne and was felt widely throughout the country, from Auckland in the north to Dunedin in the south.[https://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/story/2839343 M 6.7, Gisborne, 20 December 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015193405/https://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/story/2839343 |date=15 October 2018 }}. GeoNet.
Tectonic setting
New Zealand lies along the boundary between the Indo-Australian plate and Pacific plate.
- In the South Island, most of the relative displacement between these plates is taken up along a single dextral (right lateral) strike-slip fault with a major reverse component, the Alpine Fault.
- In the North Island, displacement is mainly taken up along the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, although the remaining dextral strike-slip component is accommodated by the North Island Fault System. Subduction off the coast takes place at the Hikurangi Trough, which runs parallel to the East Coast of the North Island and is the southern extension from the Kermadec Trench, however earthquakes here occur less frequently.Mouslopoulou, V., Nicol, A., Little, T. A., & Walsh, J. J. (2007). [http://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/290/1/387.abstract Terminations of large strike-slip faults: an alternative model from New Zealand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407060117/http://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/290/1/387.abstract |date=7 April 2022 }}. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 290 (1), pp 387–415.
Earthquake
Effects
While the earthquake was initially reported to have caused no deaths, an elderly woman in Gisborne suffered a heart attack and died shortly after the quake.[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10483683 One dead, up to 20 injured after huge quake] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126044138/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/ |date=26 January 2020 }}, The New Zealand Herald, 21 December 2007. A number of buildings in central Gisborne were damaged and had their roofs cave in. The central business district was closed off to allow building inspectors to assess buildings for damage; three buildings had collapsed. Gisborne's standby sewage system was activated. There were power outages immediately after the earthquake hit.{{Cite news |date=21 December 2007 |title=Quake 6.8 magnitude hits east coast |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1320238/1517721 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231163447/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1320238/1517721 |archive-date=31 December 2007 |access-date=29 July 2024 |work=1News}} Temporary problems with phone, water and gas lines also occurred.{{Cite news |date=21 December 2007 |title=Woman's death blamed on NZ quake |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-12-21/womans-death-blamed-on-nz-quake/994066 |access-date=29 July 2024 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia}} The town clock stopped at 8:55 pm.[http://www.3news.co.nz/Rattled-Gisborne-residents-pick-up-the-pieces-after-quake/tabid/209/articleID/42241/cat/167/Default.aspx 'Rattled Gisborne residents pick up the pieces after quake'], 3News. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120224195402/http://www.3news.co.nz/Rattled-Gisborne-residents-pick-up-the-pieces-after-quake/tabid/209/articleID/42241/cat/167/Default.aspx Archived] 10 June 2009. The Earthquake Commission had received over 6,200 insurance claims costing a total of about $25 million, the biggest number since the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake.{{Cite report |title=Earthquake Commission Annual Report 2007–2008 |url=https://www.eqc.govt.nz/assets/Publications-Resources/EQC-Annual-Report-2007-08.pdf |access-date=31 July 2024 |page=6,7 |archive-date=24 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624071808/https://www.eqc.govt.nz/assets/Publications-Resources/EQC-Annual-Report-2007-08.pdf |url-status=live }} It was earlier estimated that the cost of damage caused by the earthquake could rise to $30 million.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/4332985a11.html The $30m shockwave] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223000316/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4332985a11.html |date=23 December 2007 }}, 22 December 2007
The National Crisis Management Centre was activated after the earthquake struck. A state of emergency started on 21 December and lasted until 22 December.{{Cite news |date=15 May 2008 |title=City was lucky, earthquake seminar told |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/city-was-lucky-earthquake-seminar-told/GCYVW2MJCR4EIKU2KCYAQH4LJE/ |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=NZPA}}
Liquefaction occurred near the Waipaoa River, and there was an increased activity in nearby mud volcanoes.{{Cite web |date=4 December 2008 |title=The Mw 6.6 Gisborne Earthquake of 2007: Preliminary Records and General Source Characterisation |url=https://www.nzsee.org.nz/db/Bulletin/Archive/41(4)0266.pdf |website=New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071222132453/http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/2839343g.html New Zealand earthquake report – Magnitude 6.7, Thursday, 20 December 2007 at 8:55:17 pm (NZDT)]. GeoNet.
- [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000fuvt#executive M 6.6 – off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand] (U.S. Geological Survey)
- {{EQ-isc-link|13293317}}
{{Earthquakes in 2007}}
{{Earthquakes in New Zealand}}
Category:History of the Gisborne District