’Quakes again hit Bay of Plenty

Press, 13 March 1987, Page 4

’Quakes again hit Bay of Plenty

PA Tauranga An earthquake measuring about 4.5 on the Richter scale cut power to Ohope at 2.32 a.m. yesterday, a Rotorua D.S.I.R. spokesman said. The earthquake, one of four felt in the region yesterday morning, was centred almost directly on the epicentre of the big March 2 earthquake, about 15km north and offshore of the city of Whakatane.

It was followed by a 4.5 tremor at 9.02 a.m. centred near the sawmilling and paper manufacturing town of Kawerau, which was one of the communities hardest hit by the March 2 earthquake.

Witnesses. reportedly said both shakes were “long and rumbling” and

feared the strengthpointed to another big earthquake. Dozens of smaller tremors occurred a week before the March 2 earthquake.

Two lesser shocks were felt in the Kawerau area about 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.

The first, which measured about 4.5 on the Richter scale, was the larger, a D.S.I.R. geologist, Dr I. Nairn, said. The Edgecumbe Civil Defence deputy controller, Mr Jim Fox, said no damage had been reported from the Kawerau earthquakes. Dr Naim said they were being considered as continuing after-shocks from the large earthquake on March 2, which measured 6.2 on the Richter scale.