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May 9, 2007updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Kent Messenger produces earthquake special

By Press Gazette

The Kent Messenger Group produced a 16-page special edition covering East Kent's biggest earthquake in almost 60 years.

Reporter Michael DeFroand was working the weekend shift for the Kentish Express when the quake, measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale, struck in the Folkestone area.

He said: "I had just walked into the office and was sitting down to a cup of coffee when the whole building swayed.

"Minutes later, the phones would not stop ringing with readers letting us know what they had felt and asking if we knew what had happened."

Three company photographers dashed to the scene and were soon joined by reporters and editors, who helped contribute to their respective papers, the group's KMFM radio stations and website Kent Online.

The website reported a 280 per cent increase in traffic on the day and a 160 per cent rise the following day.

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