Quake damage assessment continues

Loose chimney stacks, tiles and masonry were preventing people from returning to their homes after an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale caused widespread problems.

Teams of structural engineers and surveyors were assessing damaged buildings and co-operating closely with fire crews to make safe dangerous properties in Folkestone, Kent.

Most residents forced from their homes sought refuge with families and friends, while a small number stayed overnight at the Salvation Army rest centre in Canterbury Road.

Sarah Smith, of Shepway District Council, said the worst affected buildings had been identified after it received more than 470 calls from residents.

She said: "So far 73 buildings have been deemed as not being safe to return to in the short term. Two families stayed overnight in the Salvation Army rest centre, and two other families went to stay in a Travelodge.

"What we will be doing is speaking with those families to see what we can do to help accommodate them, either by housing them in temporary accommodation or a hotel."

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

The moderate shock at around 8.19am on Saturday centred on the Foord area of Folkestone but resulted in only one person, a 30-year-old woman, suffering minor injuries.

Many of the cordons put in place round roads with precariously-perched chimneys and tiles had been removed but officials urged people to be vigilant.