Wellington apartment evacuated after false alarm following earthquake

A Wellington apartment building was evacuated on Sunday night due to a false alarm, according to property developers. The alarm was triggered by one resident after a magnitude-5.7 earthquake earlier that day, but inspections found no structural damage. The Victoria Lane Apartments were cordoned off for two hours while Fire and Emergency New Zealand assessed the situation. By 11:30 PM, the building was deemed safe for residents to return. Developers stated that the building's base isolation system ensures seismic safety. Residents reported feeling safe and denied claims of significant shaking, suggesting the alarm was caused by one anxious individual.