Kent earthquake families wait to go home » Environment » 24dash.com

Scores of families still do not know when they will be able to return to their homes after spending another night in temporary accommodation after the biggest earthquake to strike Britain in five years.

Up to 20 buildings in Folkestone, Kent, have been ed as very dangerous, and an estimated 150 have been deemed as dangerous with loose chimney stacks, tiles and masonry.

Eight hundred calls have been made to a helpline from residents mainly reporting shaky chimneys and structural damage, a Shepway District Council spokeswoman said.

Most of them have either decided to stay with friends or family or been able to cautiously return to their homes as it emerged the laborious clear-up process could take weeks.

Building control officers and structural engineers worked with fire crews throughout yesterday, assessing buildings and removing precariously-perched chimney pots and tiles.

Resident Friday Rase, 29, watched from the pavement as fire crews using an aerial ladder platform carefully lifted away chimney pots from the roof of her flat in Canterbury Road.

She said: "We don't know what we're going to do. We're staying at my sister's at the moment but we may have to go into temporary accommodation."

Building control teams from across Kent have been drafted in to ease the burden and speed up the process of analysing damaged buildings.

A Shepway District Council spokeswoman said: "Our aim is to get round to everyone who is affected to ensure no-one is in a position where they are staying in an unsafe property."

Disaster struck at 8.19am on Saturday when an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale caused widespread problems, temporarily knocking out power lines and sending chimneys and masonry falling.

The moderate shock centred on five streets in the Foord area of Folkestone but resulted in only one person, a 30-year-old woman, suffering minor injuries to her head and neck.

Speaking in one of the worst-hit areas, Kent Fire and Rescue Service's chief fire officer Charlie Hendry said it was merciful more people were not injured.

He said: "It was an extremely scary experience being shaken out of your bed at 8.20 in the morning and most people were very confused.

"But one of the things that we were pleased about was that we were able to get control of it very quickly and I think we were able to provide a lot of resources early on.

"I think in some ways it was really miraculous that more people didn't get hurt. We are really thankful for that."

Insurers predict the total cost of damage could run into millions, possibly the low tens of millions.

Malcolm Tarling, of the Association of British Insurers, said: "The last serious earthquake that struck Britain in Dudley resulted in a bill of around GBP15 to GBP20 million, so I would estimate that in Folkestone it would run into single figure millions, possibly low tens of millions.

"But it is not something that would be considered a big deal by insurers as it is exactly the kind of event that they would have planned for."

He added that homeowners should not fret about claiming on their insurance, insisting that standard household policies cover homes in the event of an earthquake.

Many of the cordons put in place around roads with dangerous properties had been removed but officials urged people to be vigilant to falling masonry.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said further assessments would take place today to decide what further action should be taken.

He said: "Members of the public are urged to contact the emergency services on 999 if they have to report a dangerous structure or life-threatening incident.

"Reports of structural damage should be referred to Shepway District Council on 01303 853566 or 853567 and possible gas leaks should be reported to Transco on 0800 111999."

Copyright Press Association 2007

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