Wellington residents return home after earthquake evacuation deemed safe

Residents of the Victoria Lane Apartments in Wellington have been allowed to return home after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake prompted an evacuation. The building was assessed and deemed safe by Fire and Emergency New Zealand after concerns about structural damage. The evacuation occurred on Sunday evening, following reports that the building had been swaying for hours. Police cordoned off the area, restricting access until safety assessments were completed. The 16-storey building, which opened in March 2023, was marketed as Wellington's first base-isolated apartment development, designed for enhanced seismic safety.