Earthquake puts Southland in spotlight

Australian media very excited by Earthquake 800 km south of Invercargill; biggest in the world for more than three years

24 December 2004

The tiny Southland community of Otautau has taken a turn in the world's spotlight, thanks to this morning's major earthquake.

The quake, which at 8.1 on the Richter scale was the biggest for more than three years, was centred 800 kilometres south of Invercargill.

Chris Diack from Radio Otautau says he was surprised to find himself being interviewed on two major Australian news networks.

He says New Zealanders take quakes in their stride, but because this one was felt in Tasmania, the Australian media have reacted strongly, though he admits being slightly bemused at the interest from overseas.

Chris Diack says events like earthquakes underline the importance of local radio stations to their communities.

Meanwhile, scientists are reassuring people that they should be no more worried than usual over today's 8.1 magnitude earthquake.

Earthquakes of that magnitude are officially classified as "great" earthquakes, capable of causing great damage and loss of life.

The 1906 earthquake which struck San Francisco was a typical "great" earthquake.

However, at more than 800 kilometres from Invercargill, it was too far away to cause any damage though as well as being felt in the South Island it could be detected in Tasmania.

The epicentre was a little closer to remote Macquarie Island, at 400 kilometres away, but scientists working at the Australian Antarctic Division there were unaware of it.

Duty seismologist Dr Ken Gledhill says because New Zealand is on the Pacific Ring's plate boundary, there are going to be some big quakes every now and then.

Today's early morning quake also created a 20 centimetre tsunami at Bluff.

© 2010 NZCity, IRN