Gisborne residents cleaning up after Thursday's major earthquake may have felt a further reminder with an aftershock this morning. (Yahoo Xtra news)
GNS Science said a 3.9 tremor on the Richter scale was likely felt in the area at 11.49am. he quake was centred 40km south-east of Gisborne at a depth of 35 km. A state of emergency in the city was lifted yesterday. Gisborne District Council said the situation was now being handled by recovery manager John Clarke, with a focus on ensuring business as usual for the central business district and a normal Christmas period for the overall district.
Only a small number of retailers remain closed. Buildings in the city were left partially collapsed, roofs caved in, water tanks and winery vats burst and gaping holes appeared in roadways, after an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the region at 8.55pm on Thursday.
It was centred 50km offshore southeast of Gisborne at a depth of 40km. It was followed Friday morning by aftershocks measuring 4.2 and 4.5. Yesterday another earthquake measuring 4.8 shook the area about 11.30am.
