Edith Cavell Bridge reopens after Milford Sound quakes
Queenstown Lakes District Council reopened Edith Cavell Bridge this morning after engineers inspected it overnight. Wednesday evening brought magnitude 5.5 and 5.6 quakes near Milford Sound, felt in Queenstown, with minor rockfall later cleared on SH6 Kawarau Gorge.
- 01Magnitude 5.5 at 6.13pm Wednesday, 40km north-east of Milford Sound, 5km depth
- 02Magnitude 5.6 at 6.57pm Wednesday, 35km north-east of Milford Sound, 5km depth
- 03Edith Cavell Bridge closed overnight, reopened Thursday morning after engineer inspection
- 04Minor rockfall cleared on SH6 Kawarau Gorge
- 05GeoNet: 30 earthquakes recorded in the area by late Wednesday
If you are in Queenstown this Thursday, the practical update is on the roads, not a new shake. Queenstown Lakes District Council says Edith Cavell Bridge, closed overnight after Wednesday evening's quakes, is open again after an engineer inspection this morning.
Two shallow quakes struck near Piopiotahi / Milford Sound on Wednesday evening: magnitude 5.5 at 6.13pm and magnitude 5.6 at 6.57pm, both at 5km depth, according to GeoNet via 1News. They caused moderate shaking. A 1News reporter in Queenstown described light shaking for about 15 to 20 seconds. QLDC later said crews had cleared some minor rockfall on SH6 Kawarau Gorge.
GeoNet told 1News the cluster is 15 to 20km south-east of the Alpine Fault, on a separate fault, and that it had recorded 30 earthquakes in the area by late Wednesday, with further smaller events likely. QLDC said the wider network was mostly dry, with temperatures about 6C to 14C.
Do not treat a file photo of last night as news. There is no trusted source still of the shaking. The desk is the road status.
Asked this morning
Is Edith Cavell Bridge open this morning?
Yes. QLDC closed the historic bridge over the Shotover near Arthur's Point overnight for inspection and said it reopened this morning after engineers cleared it.
Did last night's quakes close the Milford road?
1News does not say SH94 closed because of the quakes. Check the live NZTA status on [Is Queenstown open this morning?](/today/) before you leave, because alpine conditions change on their own.
Should visitors still go to Milford Sound today?
The Edith Cavell Bridge is open. Confirm SH94 and weather on [today's desk](/today/) and the [earthquake alert](/earthquakes/) before you commit to a long drive.