The earthquake which rattle Gisborne and the East Coast has been downgraded from 6.8 magnitude to 6.6
21 December 2007
It has been revealed the earthquake which has damaged buildings in Gisborne was not as big as originally thought.
GNS scientists called it a 6.8 magnitude to begin with, but by using a different scale they have found it actually measured 6.6. The quake was centred 50km offshore and 40km deep.
GNS says the distance protected Gisborne from the full energy of the quake since the further away from the epicentre, the more the energy spreads out.
Scientists say it is likely it was caused by rocks of Pacific Plate sliding against the Australian Plate. They say there have been surprisingly few aftershocks.
A Gisborne business owner is shattered following the destruction of her store. Bernina owner Stephanie Butler says she and her family were at the back of the house having dinner when the the quake flattened the building. She says she has been there nearly 30 years and it has come as a massive blow.
