1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake strikes

New Zealand’s deadliest earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck at 10.47 a.m., destroying much of central Napier and Hastings. Fire incinerated much of what was left. Dozens of buildings collapsed, including Napier’s cathedral, public library and nurses’ home, where eight nurses were killed.

The sea rushed out of Ahuriri lagoon, uplifting 1300 ha of dry land. The official death toll was 256, but 258 may be a more accurate figure. Either way, it remains the worst civil disaster to have occurred in New Zealand (257 people died in the Erebus plane crash in Antarctica).

Image: Fireman in the wreckage (Te Ara)