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Earthquake damage closes school Earthquake damage closes school
(about 6 hours later)
Nearly 1,000 pupils in Kent are having the day off after Saturday's earthquake left school buildings cracked and ceilings in need of inspection. Nearly 1,000 pupils in Kent have had the day off after Saturday's earthquake left school buildings cracked and ceilings in need of inspection.
A full assessment of the Harvey Grammar School, in Cheriton Road, Folkestone, was due to be carried out on Monday. The Harvey Grammar School, in Cheriton Road, Folkestone, had to be closed to allow a safety assessment to be carried out, but will reopen on Tuesday.
Head teacher Keith Rivers said: "I've got a duty of care and responsibility to more than 900 students and 100 teachers and members of support staff." Shepway District Council said it had received more than 1,000 reports of damage to properties in the town.
A total of about 40 properties were said to be too dangerous to return to. Most have minor damage, but 40 are too dangerous for families to return to.
The 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck at 0819 BST on Saturday, with the epicentre 7.5 miles into the English Channel off the coast of Dover. Five of the families are being put up in hotels, with the rest staying with friends and family.
Loose chimneys The 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck at 0819 BST on Saturday, with the epicentre 7.5 miles (12km) into the English Channel off the coast of Dover.
The damage to the Harvey Grammar School was discovered during an inspection on Sunday.
Mr Rivers said: "Some brickwork is displaced and there are some cracks in the gabling that are quite large and are going to need repairing.
"Three classrooms have some damage, and the ceiling is slightly lower than it should be in one room.
"This certainly wasn't on our agenda, but we're very optimistic that the school will be open tomorrow [Tuesday]."
Pictures and video on BBC KentPictures and video on BBC Kent
Meanwhile, some residents have spent a second night away from homes which have been deemed unsafe, because of loose chimney stacks, tiles and masonry. The damage to the Harvey Grammar School, which has more than 1,000 pupils and teachers, was discovered during an inspection on Sunday.
Shepway District Council said about 800 calls had been made to a structural damage helpline and about 50 properties were dangerously unsafe. Head teacher Keith Rivers said: "Some brickwork is displaced and there are some cracks in the gabling that are quite large and are going to need repairing.
Council chief executive Alistair Stewart said the clean-up operation could take "quite a few weeks". "Three classrooms have some damage, and the ceiling is slightly lower than it should be in one room."
Many of the unsafe properties in the town have loose chimney stacks, tiles and masonry.
Shepway District Council said it had received 1,100 calls to a structural damage helpline by Monday afternoon.
SHEPWAY COUNCIL ADVICE LINE 01303 853566/7
Council chief executive Alistair Stewart has estimated the clean-up operation could take "quite a few weeks".
Building control officers have worked with fire and police crews to try to make buildings and roads as safe as possible.Building control officers have worked with fire and police crews to try to make buildings and roads as safe as possible.
Surveyors are being drafted in from as far afield as Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Wiltshire to help Shepway council.Surveyors are being drafted in from as far afield as Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Wiltshire to help Shepway council.
SHEPWAY COUNCIL ADVICE LINE 01303 853566/7
Mr Stewart said Folkestone's Civic Centre in Castle Hill Avenue would be opened up as a help and advice centre for people affected by the earthquake.Mr Stewart said Folkestone's Civic Centre in Castle Hill Avenue would be opened up as a help and advice centre for people affected by the earthquake.
Kent County Council said trading standards officers would be out in Folkestone this week amid reports rogue builders have been trying to cash in.
Michael Howard, Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, said of the emergency services: "I think they performed very well and I want to pay tribute to them for that."Michael Howard, Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, said of the emergency services: "I think they performed very well and I want to pay tribute to them for that."