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Today in History
3 February
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake strikes
New Zealand's deadliest earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, destroyed much of central Napier and Hastings. Fire swept through the wreckage destroying much of what was left. Dozens of buildings collapsed, including Napier's cathedral, public library and nurses' home, where eight nurses are killed.
The sea rushed out of Ahuriri lagoon, uplifting 300 hectares 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 on New Zealand soil (257 people died in the Erebus plane crash in Antarctica).
Image: Fireman in the wreckage (Te Ara)
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