BULLER GORGE; DAMAGE AT INANGAHUA.




Initials PBS/NZ/AS/SC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A LARGE AREA ON THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND HAS BEEN DEVASTATED BY A STRONG EARTHQUAKE WHICH SHOOK THE ISLAND ON FRIDAY MORNING.

THE WORST AFFECTED AREA IS A STRIP OF THE 130 MILES (208 KM) OF COASTLINE BETWEEN KARAMEA IN THE NORTH TO HOKOTIKA IN THE SOUTH.

THE BULLER GORGE, A NORMAL CATCHMENT AREA, HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY A HUGE LANDFALL AND PEOPLE IN TOWNS BENEATH THE GORGE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED IN CASE THE WALL BREAKS, SENDING A WALL OF WATER DOWN THE VALLEY. THE RIVER IN THE GORGE ROSE MORE THAN 26 FEET (8 METRES) IN ONLY A FEW HOURS A FEW HOURS AFTER THE TREMORS.

THE WORST OF THE DAMAGE OCCURRED IN THE TOWN OF INANGAHUA, EPICENTRE OF THE EARTHQUAKE OF THE EARTHQUAKE. ONE PERSON, A WOMAN, WAS KILLED WHEN HER HOUSE WAS ENGULFED IN A LANDSLIDE. FIFTEEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE INJURED, SOME SERIOUSLY.

RAILWAY LINES ON THE WEST COAST WERE BROKEN, AND A NUMBER OF ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

THERE WAS ALSO CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO OTHER TOWNS, INCLUDING WESTPORT AND GREYMOUTH.