21 Jul 2013

Power restored to majority of Seddon

11:04 pm on 21 July 2013

Seventy-six homes in Seddon will be without power overnight after Sunday afternoon's severe earthquake.

Geonet says a quake which measured magnitude 6.5, struck at 5.09pm at 20km east of Seddon at a depth of 17km.

A second quake, registering 5.5, hit minutes later at 5.13pm at a depth of 5km, 50km east of Seddon.

Just after the 6.5 quake, 2020 homes in Marlborough lost power.

Most had electricity restored within three hours of the jolt.

Marlborough Lines says the remaining homes will be reconnected on Monday morning.

Marlborough Emergency Group public information officer Marianne Aitken says there have been no reports of major damage in the town and there have been no reports of injuries.

The Red Cross is opening a welfare centre on Sunday evening at the Awatere Rugby Club in Seddon for anyone who has been affected.

Ms Aitken is asking people to check on their neighbours and to follow the 'drop, hold, cover' procedure if there are any more aftershocks.

Damage to Seddon winery

Seddon winemaker Peter Yealands says tanks in his winery are leaking wine and dozens off bottles have fallen and smashed.

"Some tanks at the very top are leaking, at the moment we've got pretty much continuous aftershocks so we're not going to go in there when it's like this - we'll address it in the morning."

Mr Yealands says his hot water cylinder has popped and the chimney has fallen off his son's house nearby.