List of disasters in New Zealand by death toll

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This is a list of New Zealand disasters by death toll, listing major disasters (excluding acts of war) which occurred in New Zealand and its territories or involved a significant number of New Zealand citizens, in a specific incident, where the loss of life was 10 or more.

100 or more deaths

Deaths Name Type Date Location Notes
257 Air New Zealand Flight 901 airliner accident 28 Nov 1979 Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica Controlled flight into terrain
256[1][2] 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake earthquake 3 Feb 1931 20 km north of Napier
200+ 1820s Southland tsunami tsunami 1820s Orepuki beach Possibly more than 200 killed
189 HMS Orpheus shipwreck 7 Feb 1863 off Manukau Heads, near Auckland
185[3] 2011 Christchurch earthquake earthquake 22 Feb 2011 Christchurch
151 Tangiwai disaster train wreck/lahar 24 Dec 1953 Whangaehu River
135+[4] 1st Little Waihi landslide landslide 1780 Waihi Village
131 SS Tararua shipwreck 29 Apr 1881 off Waipapa Point
121 SS Wairarapa shipwreck 29 Oct 1894 off Great Barrier Island
108–153[5][6] 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera volcanic eruption 10 Jun 1886 Mount Tarawera

50 to 99 deaths

Deaths Name or description Type Date Location Notes
87 Fiery Star shipwreck 11 May 1865 240 km off the Chatham Islands
75 SS Penguin shipwreck 12 Feb 1909 off Cape Terawhiti
68[7] General Grant shipwreck May 1866 Auckland Island 10 castaways survived the wreck and were successfully rescued.
65[8] Brunner Mine disaster mine explosion 26 Mar 1896 Brunner
65[9] 2nd Little Waihi Landslide landslide 7 May 1846 Waihi Village Tribal leader Mananui Te Heuheu Tukino II and most of his family were killed in the landslide[10]
53[11] TEV Wahine shipwreck 10 Apr 1968 Barrett Reef, Wellington Harbour
52 City of Dunedin shipwreck 20 May 1865 off Cape Terawhiti There are estimates of between 250 and 600 passengers perishing, but these reports were 20 or more years later
51+ Blizzard and Flood of 1863 floods and blizzards Jul 1863 – Aug 1863 Central Otago goldfields The actual death toll was probably higher because of the transient nature of the miners and the ruggedness of the country
51 Christchurch mosque shootings terrorist attack 15 Mar 2019 Christchurch

10 to 49 deaths

Deaths Name or description Type Date Location Notes
49 Featherston Prisoner of war camp riot riot 25 Feb 1943 Featherston
45 SS Elingamite shipwreck 9 Nov 1902 off West Island in the Three Kings Islands
43 Ralph Mine disaster mine explosion 12 Sep 1914 Huntly methane and coal dust explosion[12]
41 Ballantyne's store disaster fire 18 Nov 1947 Christchurch
40+[13][14] Great storm of 1868, flash floods and 12 shipwrecks storm 3 Feb 1868 Predominantly eastern areas of New Zealand Death toll likely understated as impact on many Māori unknown
37 Seacliff Lunatic Asylum fire 8 Dec 1942 Seacliff
34 Kaitangata Mine disaster mine explosion 21 Feb 1879 Kaitangata explosion of fire-damp (methane)
34[13][15] SS Taiaroa shipwreck 11 Apr 1886 Waiau Toa / Clarence River mouth
34[16] Dunedin shipwreck (presumed) 1890 between Oamaru and London
30 Marlborough shipwreck (presumed) 1890 between Lyttelton and London
29[17] MV Kaitawa shipwreck 23 May 1966 near Pandora Bank, Cape Reinga
29 Pike River Mine disaster mine explosion 19 Nov 2010 northwest of Greymouth large methane explosion[18]
26 Barque Maria shipwreck[15] 1851 Cape Terawhiti
25+[19][20] Storm of 1897 floods and shipwreck 16 Apr 1897 North Island flooding at Clive, boating accidents, and the wreck of the Zuleika near Cape Palliser. 25 confirmed deaths and 6 unconfirmed
25[21][22] MV Joyita ghost ship Oct 1955 En route from Apia, Samoa to Tokelau
24[23] Assaye shipwreck (presumed) 1890 between London and Wellington; wreckage washed up at the Chatham Islands 7 months after the ship left London
23 New Zealand National Airways Corporation Flight 441 air accident 3 Jul 1963 Kaimai Ranges
22[24] launch Ranui shipwreck 30 Dec 1950 off Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty
22 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption volcanic eruption 9 Dec 2019 Whakaari/White Island
21[25][26] brigantine Sophia Pate shipwreck Aug 1841 Kaipara Harbour
21[27] Kopuawhara flash flood of 1938 flood 19 Feb 1938 Destroyed the Kopuawhara railway workers camp
21 Hyde railway disaster rail accident 4 Jun 1943 near Hyde
20+[28] Tsunami from 1868 Arica earthquake tsunami 13 Aug 1868 Chatham Islands
20[15] schooner St. Vincent shipwreck 14 Feb 1869 Palliser Bay
20[29] RNZAF Douglas C-47 disappearance air accident 24 Sep 1945 en route from Vanuatu
19[30] Strongman Mine mine explosion 19 Jan 1967 near Greymouth
18[31] Canoe on Lake Rotorua boating accident 16 Apr 1870 near Mokoia Island on Lake Rotorua
18[32] Clyde shipwreck 6 Nov 1884 Horseshoe Bay, near Akaroa, Banks Peninsula
18[33] Canoe on Motu River boating accident 4 Aug 1900 Motu River – 25 miles from Opotiki[34] There were 16 children and 2 adults in the six person canoe
18[35] ketch Enterprise and steamer Tauranga shipwreck 23 Jul 1870 between Cape Rodney and Sail Rock, Hauraki Gulf Those lost — fourteen crew and four passengers — all came from the Tauranga. The crew of the Enterprise survived in the ship's longboat.[36]
18[37] Lastingham shipwreck 1 Sep 1884 Cape Jackson, Cook Strait
17 Ongarue railway disaster rail accident[13] 6 Jul 1923 Ongarue
17[38] 1929 Murchison earthquake earthquake 17 Jun 1929 Murchison
16[39] 1943 Liberator crash at Whenuapai air accident 2 Aug 1943 Whenuapai Those killed were mainly Japanese civilians who were being repatriated in a prisoner exchange.
16[40] Capitaine Bougainville shipwreck 3 Sep 1975 Whananaki
15[13] Lockheed Lodestar airliner crash air accident 18 Mar 1949 near Waikanae
15[41] MV Holmglen shipwreck 24 Nov 1959 near Timaru
15[42] Brynderwyns bus accident road accident 7 Feb 1963 Brynderwyn Hills
15[43] Derry Castle shipwreck 20 Mar 1887 Enderby Island, Auckland Islands
14[44][45] Hutt River flood floods 17 Jan 1858 Hutt Valley
14[46] Two Hudson bombers lost off the New Zealand coast air accident 21 Aug 1944 en route from Fiji No. 4 Squadron RNZAF
14[47] Aramoana massacre spree killing 13 Nov 1990 Aramoana, near Dunedin
14 Cave Creek disaster structural failure 28 Apr 1995 Paparoa National Park
13[15] Tasmania shipwreck 1897 Māhia Peninsula
13[48] SS Ventnor shipwreck 28 Oct 1902 off Omapere, Hokianga
13 NAC Electra air crash air accident 23 Oct 1948 on Mount Ruapehu
12[49] L'Alcmène shipwreck 3 Jun 1851 Baylys Beach, Kaipara A French navy corvette
12[50] ferry Pride of the Yarra and paddle steamer Favourite collision 6 Jul 1863 Otago Harbour
12[51] Cafe Chantant fire, The Octagon, Dunedin fire 8 Sep 1879 Dunedin
12[52] Barque Lizzie Bell shipwreck 24 Jul 1901 Waimate, Taranaki
12[53] barque Dundonald shipwreck 7 Mar 1907 Disappointment Island, Auckland Islands
12[54][55] Brigantine Rio Loge shipwreck (presumed) Jan 1909 Last seen in Cook Strait on 14 January, en route from Kaipara to Dunedin May have caused the wreck of the Penguin a month later.[56]
12[57] Cyclone of 1936 storm 1 Feb 1936 North Island and upper South Island A tropical cyclone that originated near the Solomon Islands
11[58] Glen Afton No. 1 mine Coal mine fire 24 Sep 1939 Huntly 11 miners, including the mine manager, died from carbon monoxide asphyxia
11[59] B17 bomber crash air accident 12 Jun 1942 RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai
11[60] 2012 Carterton hot air balloon crash air accident 7 Jan 2012 near Carterton
11[61] Cyclone Gabrielle cyclone 12 Feb 2023–16 Feb 2023 North Island and northern South Island
10[62] Shamrock sailing boat shipwreck 1834 Queen Charlotte Sound Capsized and sank. Exact location unknown.
10[63] Brig Australia shipwreck 23 May 1873 off Cape Campbell
10 White Island sulphur mine lahar following volcano crater wall collapse 10 Sep 1914 Whakaari/White Island No bodies found.[64][65]
10[66] Husky and Argo lost to storm in yacht race shipwrecks 21 Jan 1951 between Wellington and Christchurch
10[67] Aspiring Air Britten-Norman Islander, collided with terrain air crash 8 Aug 1989 Upper Dart Valley

NOTE: The exact number of deaths in some early New Zealand shipwrecks is not fully recorded. There may be several shipwrecks not listed here which claimed ten or more lives.

Significant incidents resulting in fewer than 10 deaths

Deaths Name or description Type Date Location Notes
9 1855 Wairarapa earthquake earthquake 23 Jan 1855 Lake Wairarapa
9 2010 Fox Glacier FU-24 crash air accident 4 Sep 2010 Fox Glacier
7 1941 Kowhitirangi shootings spree killing 8 Oct 1941–9 Oct 1941 Kowhitirangi, near Hokitika four police officers and three civilians killed
7 Cyclone Bola cyclone 6 Mar 1988–12 Mar 1988 North Island
7 Mangatepopo Canyon disaster flood 15 Apr 2008 Tongariro National Park
7 2015 Fox Glacier helicopter crash air accident 21 Nov 2015 Fox Glacier
6 Raurimu massacre spree killing 8 Feb 1997 Raurimu
5 Loafers Lodge fire fire 16 May 2023 Newtown, Wellington
4 Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 air accident 9 Jun 1995 Tararua Range, near Palmerston North
4 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods flood 27 Jan 2023–2 Feb 2023 upper North Island
3 1968 Inangahua earthquake earthquake 24 May 1968 near Inangahua Junction
3 2023 Auckland shooting shooting 20 Jul 2023 Auckland CBD
2 1966 Air New Zealand DC-8 crash air accident 4 Jul 1966 near Auckland Airport
2 Air New Zealand Flight 4374 air accident 17 Feb 1979 near Auckland Airport
2 Airwork Flight 23 air accident 3 May 2005 near Stratford
2 2010 Canterbury earthquake earthquake 4 Sep 2010 near Darfield
2 2016 Kaikōura earthquake earthquake 14 Nov 2016 near Waiau
1 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake earthquake 2 Mar 1987 near Edgecumbe

Pandemics and health crises

Deaths Description Date Location Notes
8,600 1918 flu pandemic 1918 October–December nationwide [68]
3,623[69] COVID-19 pandemic 2020 February–ongoing nationwide Total deaths attributed to COVID-19 as at 17 December 2023.[69][70] (Statistics updated weekly.)
713 HIV/AIDS pandemic 1983–ongoing nationwide As of December 2014.[71]
69 2009 swine flu pandemic 2009 April–September nationwide [72]

Significant incidents of New Zealanders being killed overseas

Confirmed Deaths Name Type Date Location Notes
470[73] Cospatrick ship lost to fire 17 Nov 1874 640 km south-west of the Cape of Good Hope, en route to Auckland Only 3 people survived
100[74] The Trevelyan (immigrant ship en route from Glasgow) storm 3 Jun 1888 Presumed foundered off the South African coast, en route to Port Chalmers, New Zealand
89[75] Knowsley Hall shipwreck (presumed) 1879 between London and Lyttelton
79[76] Matoaka shipwreck (presumed) 1869 between Lyttelton and London
15[77] 1943 RNZAF Catalina crash air accident 5 Jun 1943 south of Fiji
14[78][79] Pan Am Flight 806 air accident 30 Jan 1974 Pago Pago, American Samoa Only New Zealand deaths listed
12[80] 1945 RNZAF Catalina crash air accident 27 Jan 1945 off Beqa, Fiji
10[81] Bere Ferrers rail accident, train hit NZ troops on tracks by platform train accident 24 Sep 1917 Bere Ferrers, Devon, UK

See also

References

  1. ^ Bateman New Zealand Encyclopedia, edition 4 (1995). Article: |earthquake 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, Hawke's Bay region, Napier
  2. ^ Welch, Denis (4 February 2006). "Shake, Rattle & Roll". New Zealand Listener (3430): 29–30. A larger death toll of 258 includes two missing, presumed dead.
  3. ^ "List of deceased – Christchurch earthquake". New Zealand Police. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  4. ^ Waihi Landslide Archived 15 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, GeoNet News, Vol. 2, February 2003, p. 7. Death toll calculated by subtracting death tolls for two later landslides (64 and 1 in 1846 and 1910 respectively) from the total of "more than 200" given for all three.
  5. ^ The eruption's death toll is uncertain. While 153 is a commonly quoted figure, only 108 named victims have been identified. Death list Archived 4 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Anheizen.com.
  6. ^ In 2007, the General Manager of the Earthquake Commission said that "... Ngati Hinemihi oral accounts put the death toll in the thousands." David Middleton (2007). A Roof Over Their Heads? The challenge of accommodation following disasters Archived 28 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Five more died before the survivors were rescued 18 months later.
  8. ^ "Brunner Mine explosion". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  9. ^ Lamorna Cooper, Hipaua Steaming Cliffs and Little Waihi Landslide, Tephra, Vol. 19, June 2002, 42–47.
  10. ^ Hura, Elizabeth. "Mananui Te Heuheu Tukino II". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  11. ^ The original Wahine death toll was 51; two names were added 22 and 40 years later. Six more people were killed by Cyclone Giselle elsewhere in New Zealand.
  12. ^ New Zealand Disasters – Mining: Ralph's Mine, Christchurch City Libraries
  13. ^ a b c d New Zealand disasters timeline, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  14. ^ Great storm of 1868, flash floods and 12 shipwrecks
  15. ^ a b c d Disasters and Mishaps – Shipwrecks, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, updated 18 September 2007.
  16. ^ Dunedin, which cites W.H. Brett's White Wings: Fifty years of sail in the New Zealand Trade, Vol. I. 1925.
  17. ^ "NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES – SINKING OF MV KAITAWA – 1966". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  18. ^ Beswick, Angela. "Pike River: Second explosion, no survivors". 3 News. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  19. ^ "NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS – CLIVE FLOODS – 1897". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  20. ^ The Wreck of The "Zuleika", Palliser Bay. Quotes from NZ Truth, 16 March 1976.
  21. ^ Field, Michael (6 March 2012). "1955 Pacific mystery to be finally marked". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  22. ^ All 25 on board were missing when the boat was found, and are presumed dead.
  23. ^ "Assaye from England to Auckland 1874". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  24. ^ "NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS – RANUI SINKING – 1950". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  25. ^ Ryburn, Wayne (1999). Tall Spars, Steamers & Gum. Auckland, N.Z.: Kaipara Publications. p. 230. ISBN 0-473-06176-7.
  26. ^ "Not many remember the 'Sophia Pate' 1841 Kaipara Harbour". freepages.rootsweb.com.
  27. ^ New Zealand Disasters – Kopuawhara flood, Christchurch City Libraries.
  28. ^ "Only deadly NZ tsunami on record hit the Chathams, 150 years ago". Stuff.co.nz. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  29. ^ "ASN Accident Description (RNZAF [NZ3526])". Aviation Safety Network. 24 September 1945. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  30. ^ New Zealand Disasters – Strongman Mine Explosion, Christchurch City Libraries.
  31. ^ Rotorua. Terrible boat disaster — Eighteen natives drowned, Daily Southern Cross| volume=XXVI| issue=3953, 23 April 1870, Page 4
  32. ^ Clyde, Dive New Zealand Magazine.
  33. ^ Casualties, Evening Star | issue=11329, 25 August 1900, Page 8
  34. ^ "Sad boating disaster". The Daily Telegraph. No. 9835. 7 August 1900. p. 5. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  35. ^ "New Zealand Historical Data – Ship "Tauranga"". Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  36. ^ Ingram, C. W. N., and Wheatley, P. O., (1936) Shipwrecks: New Zealand disasters 1795–1936. Dunedin, NZ: Dunedin Book Publishing Association. pp. 170–171.
  37. ^ The Lastingham Wreck, Paul's Dive Planet.
  38. ^ Eileen McSaveney, Historic earthquakes – The 1929 Arthur's Pass and Murchison earthquakes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 21 September 2007. Accessed 2008-01-05.
  39. ^ Livingstone, Bob (1998). Under the Southern Cross: The B-24 Liberator in the South Pacific. Turner. p. 115. ISBN 1-56311-432-1.
  40. ^ Whananaki Coastal Walk
  41. ^ Disasters and Mishaps – Shipwrecks – Holmglen, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, updated 18 September 2007.
  42. ^ New Zealand Disasters – Brynderwyns bus accident, Christchurch City Libraries.
  43. ^ "The Derry Castle". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  44. ^ Weekly Feature – Early settler had leading role Archived 2 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 2003.
  45. ^ Disastrous flood at the Hutt - 14 lives lost, Daily Southern Cross, 16 February 1858, Page 3
  46. ^ McLintock, A. H., ed. (1966). "Pre-war and Wartime Accidents". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  47. ^ [13 murder victims plus perpetrator]
  48. ^ Disasters and Mishaps – Shipwrecks – Ventnor, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, updated 18 September 2007. The cargo included the remains of 499 Chinese miners who had died in NZ and whose remains were being repatriated. The wreck was discovered in December 2012.102-year-old SS Ventnor shipwreck mystery revealed.
  49. ^ "Wreck of the Alcmène – Shipwrecks – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand".
  50. ^ Wreck information Archived 5 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Quay Stuff.
  51. ^ "NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS – OCTAGON FIRE, DUNEDIN – 1879". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  52. ^ "NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS – BARQUE LIZZIE BELL SINKING – 1901". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  53. ^ Three more died before being rescued.
  54. ^ "The Rio Loge". Press. Wellington. Press Association. 13 February 1909. p. 11. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  55. ^ "Supposed Hull of Rio Loge". Poverty Bay Herald. 22 February 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  56. ^ Stacey Wood; Greer McDonald (11 February 2009). "Search for wreck of Penguin". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  57. ^ Eight destructive New Zealand storms, Marilynn McLachlan, New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 4:00 PM Friday 14 March 2014 Retrieved 26 January 2016
  58. ^ Sherwood, Alan & Phillips, Jock. "Coal and coal mining". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  59. ^ Lomas, David (10 April 2010). "Secret deaths". The New Zealand Listener. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  60. ^ "Hot air balloon crash near Carterton kills 11". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  61. ^ "Cyclone Gabrielle updates: Death toll rises, half of uncontactable reports resolved". Radio New Zealand. 19 February 2023.
  62. ^ Add them to the list: Underwater survey discovers new wrecks in Marlborough Sounds, Oliver Lewis, Stuff.co.nz, Last updated 12:42, 1 September 2017, retrieved 1 September 2017
  63. ^ "Loss of the brig Australia, at Cape Campbell". Grey River Argus. 7 June 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  64. ^ Boast, Richard P. (November 1993). "Whakaari (White Island) and Motuhora (Whale Island). A report to the Waitangi Tribunal" (PDF). Ministry of Justice. New Zealand Government. pp. 50–51. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  65. ^ Grenfell, Hugh (16 June 2015). "The 1914 White Island/Whakaari mining disaster". Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  66. ^ "Yacht Wrecked in Ocean Race". The Press. 29 January 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  67. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  68. ^ "Epidemic | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". Nzhistory.net.nz. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  69. ^ a b "COVID-19: Current cases - COVID-19 cases summary". www.health.govt.nz. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health NZ. 19 December 2023. COVID-19 cases summary. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  70. ^ "COVID-19 Active Cases in New Zealand - Deceased". covid19map.co.nz. Global Risk Consulting Group (GRC). 19 December 2023. Deceased. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  71. ^ "UNAIDS Country Progress Report New Zealand: Reporting Period: January 2014 – December 2014" (PDF). April 2015. p. 13. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  72. ^ Gosset, Katy; Journalist (17 March 2020). "Swine Flu 2009/2010". RNZ. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  73. ^ John Wilson, The voyage out – Fire on the Cospatrick, from Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 21 September 2007. Accessed 2008-05-20.
  74. ^ The Mercury newspaper (Hobart, Australia), [1], Tuesday 30 October 1888
  75. ^ Board of Trade Wreck Report for 'Knowsley Hall', 1880[usurped], Board of Trade, 1880. Accessed 21 May 2008.
  76. ^ The Missing New Zealand Ship 'MATOAKA', which cites The Times, London, 22 March 1870, page 9. Accessed 21 May 2008.
  77. ^ "ASN Accident Description (RNZAF [NZ4006])". Aviation Safety Network. 5 June 1943. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  78. ^ "ASN Accident Description (Pan Am-806)". Aviation Safety Network. 30 January 1974. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  79. ^ "Crash Investigation Underway". News Bulletin. Pago Pago, American Samoa. 1 February 1974. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  80. ^ "ASN Accident Description (RNZAF [NZ4022])". Aviation Safety Network. 27 January 1945. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  81. ^ "Devon – BBC News". Retrieved 15 September 2016.

External links

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