Wellington earthquake brings back memories of Christchurch disaster.
Engineers were out again checking buildings in Wellington today while preparations were underway to demolish a structure considered a risk after the big earthquake.
First damaged in the July quake, and braced, yesterday’s 6.6 shake now means the Lukes Lane lift shaft will have to be taken down piece by piece.
It has been dubbed the most dangerous structure in Wellington.
“Other buildings were still. This thing was just moving by itself. It looked like it was going to come down by itself. It was just crazy,” said Jared Laing, a Wellington resident who witnessed the quake’s effect on the lift shaft.
Wellington City Council Chief operating officer Greg Orchard says the lift shaft has been cordoned off.
“And we’ve classified it as a dangerous building and those buildings around it. Certainly in an aftershock you’d want to get out of here,” he said, speaking at the scene.
A second crane is being sent up from Christchurch that can carry a load of 60 tonnes, but dismantling the tower is so complex it will be next week before it is down.
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