Earthquake damages about 35 buildings in Wellington, New Zealand
July 23, 2013 by Canadian Underwriter
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An earthquake off the coast of New Zealand has caused damage to structures and infrastructure but one modelling firm does not expect a significant level of insured losses and another says there is no indication that it was related to a series of earthquakes that struck Christchurch two years ago.
“Initial reports of damage indicate that there has been minor structural damage, including cracks in buildings and roads and broken water pipes in the city of Wellington,” according to catastrophe modelling computer software maker EQECAT Inc. “Parts of the city were without power for several hours. Non-structural damage, including broken widows, bottles, and fallen items from store shelves have also been reported.”
According to Oakland, Calif.-based EQECAT, the magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurred at 5:09 pm local time Sunday evening (12:09 a.m. Eastern time Sunday morning) in Cook Strait, 54 kilometres south southwest of Wellington.
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“There were no reports of serious injuries,” EQECAT stated.
Another provider of catastrophe modelling software and services, AIR Worldwide, says it “does not expect significant insured losses” from Sunday’s New Zealand quake.
“Shaking, which lasted a full minute, was felt as far away as Auckland, which lies 640 km north of Wellington,” Boston-based AIR Worldwide stated in a press release, adding about 35 buildings in Wellington had external damage to cladding and windows.
“While the business district is open, several buildings remain closed as a precaution, including some council buildings,” AIR Worldwide stated. “Smashed windows, strewn contents in shops and offices, dangling ceiling panels, and other superficial effects are more widespread in the city.”
EQECAT noted there are babout 20,000 earthquakes in New Zealand each year and “this is the strongest to be felt in the city of Wellington in many years.”
EQECAT added there is “no indication” it is related to a series of earthquakes that affected Christchurch in 2010-2011.
Check out photos of Wellington’s earthquake damage and WREMO in action: http://t.co/mwqnr1nMCS
— Wgtn City Council (@WgtnCC) July 23, 2013
“Historically, several large earthquakes have occurred in this area of Cook Strait, including the 1848, M7.5 1848 event and the 1855, M8.2 Wairarapa event,” EQECAT noted. “The 1855 earthquake generated New Zealand’s largest local tsunami in recorded history.”
AIR Worldwide, which is owned by Jersey City, N.J.-based Verisk Analytics Inc., noted there were reports of broken water mains.
“The greatest damage was seen at Wellington Port, where an area about 200 m long and 10 m wide collapsed into the sea. The seawall along this stretch and a shipping container were lost.”
CatWatch: Strong Earthquake Strikes Near Wellington, New Zealand http://t.co/6ggQomA4Mu
— EQECAT, Inc. (@EQECAT) July 22, 2013
The company noted New Zealand has “stringent” building codes.
“Most of the buildings are designed in accordance with modern seismic design codes and many older buildings have been retrofitted to improve their seismic performance,” AIR senior engineer of research Arash Nasseri stated in a press release. “The engineered buildings in Wellington have performed as anticipated, with most of the damage occurring on exterior cladding or windows and to contents. The most vulnerable buildings in the area are non-engineered buildings such as unreinforced masonry.”
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