February 2, 1931 Earthquake: Hawke Bay, New Zealand

1931, February 3 10:47 (local time). 39.5 N, 177 E. There was an earthquake [intensity IX] with source in Hawke Bay, which almost completely destroyed Napier and Hastings, and was felt over a considerable area. In the central region, the quake consisted of two shocks, the second being significantly stronger. Vibrations quickly intensified and continued for 2.5 minutes, making it difficult to stand upright. This earthquake turned out to be more severe than all previous quakes in New Zealand. More than 250 people perished in the quake and numerous aftershocks continued for more than a month.

Subsequent geological investigation revealed that the earthquake was apparently caused by a thrust in an easterly direction along a fault or system of faults having a northeastern attitude. The shore in the area of Napier lifted up 1.8 m, and 18 km farther north the lift diminished and in the area of Wairoa there was no uplift at all. The coast south of Napier sank 1/4 to 1 m. Subsequent depth sounding revealed that the uplift had also affected the bottom of the bay adjacent to Napier. The navigation channel in Napier became shallower by 1.8 m. Along the coast of Hawke Bay many cave-ins and landslides occurred.

(above from reference #415)

256 killed, $25 million damage. (reference #1250)

The Hawke's Bay earthquake of 3 February 1931 came like a 'bolt from the blue', a sudden catastrophe unpredicted by the science of the day... It seared itself indelibly into the memories of the 70,000-odd men, women and children living in Hawke's Bay that fateful summer... The toll was finally settled officially at 256--although, despite an outstanding effort, two people were never accounted for. Over 400 were hospitalized with serious injuries. At least 2500 were cut, bruised, scratched, and shocked, a toll never fully evaluated because few bothered to report trivial injuries to the authorities... The event is called the 'Napier' or 'Hawkes Bay' earthquake but it actually affected the whole depression-era New Zealand. The shock brought down buildings between Gisborne and Waipawa. It topped chimneys from Taupo to Wellington. (reference #9338)

Occurring at 10.47 a.m. [Note: this is Summer Time] on Tuesday, February 3rd, 1931, the Hawke's Bay earthquake is recorded as having caused the largest loss of life and the most extensive damage ever recorded in New Zealand. The effects of the earthquake were greatest in the towns of Napier and Hastings, but other towns in Hawke's Bay also suffered major damage. The death toll has recently been reassessed at 261, with 121 in Napier and 97 in Hastings. The earthquake was followed by fires in the business areas of both Napier and Hastings, the fires becoming uncontrollable as the water pressure dwindled because of broken water mains. (reference #11746)

Extensive damage, hitherto unreported, along the coast between Napier and Wairoa, and on the [?]arming and Crown lands between those two centres, was revealed to the "Star" correspondent in the course of a trip by air over that country. Fissures, rifts, landslides, holes and other curious malformation are to be seen by the score. (reference #12534)

1931, February 2, 22:46:42 UTC. 39.5 S, 177 E, magnitude 7.9 Ms. (reference #88)

1931, February 2, 22:46:42 UTC. 39.5 S, 177 E, magnitude 7.75 Ms. (reference #130)

1931, February 2 22:46:51.27 UTC. 39.772 S, 176.025 E, depth 35 km, magnitude 7.7 Mw. (reference #9910)

1931, February 2 22:46:52.21 UTC. 39.659 S, 176.42 E, depth 35 km, magnitude 7.7 Mw. (reference #10476)