WATCH: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern keeps calm as earthquake strikes during live interview
By Edaein OConnell
25th May 2020
25th May 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern kept cool, calm and collected as an earthquake struck while she was being interviewed on live TV
An earthquake, reported by GeoNet to have a magnitude of 5.8, struck near Levin in New Zealand on Monday morning.
The city is located in the North Island close to the capital Wellington. The quake lasted for 30 seconds. Although no damage was reported, it caused panic in the city with people in offices and homes rushing to take cover.
One such person to remain calm and collected was New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who was partaking in a live television interview from government buildings as the earthquake happened.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern caught on camera as 5.8 magnitude earthquake hits near the capital city of Wellington (no immediate damage reported) pic.twitter.com/5zq64ud0rb
— Peter Martinez (@rePetePro) May 24, 2020
In the footage, the camera and background can be seen shaking.
The PM then says: “We’re just having an earthquake here, Ryan. Quite a decent shake here if you see things moving behind me. The beehive moves a little more than most.”
She is then asked if she is safe and if it’s ok to continue with the interview. She replies: “Yes, no, it’s just stopped.
“No, we’re fine, I’m not under any hanging lights and I look like I’m in a structurally sound place.”
GeoNet, New Zealand’s geological hazard information unit, said there were 40 aftershocks following the initial hit. These were ranging from 1.7 to 4 magnitude.
New Zealand lies on the ‘Ring of Fire’ which is a 24,855m series of volcanoes and ocean trenches in the Pacific Ocean. In 2011 an earthquake in Christchurch killed 185 people. While in 2016, a 7.8 magnitude quake struck Kaikoura, killing two and causing billions worth of damage.
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