Normally that would not be a really big deal. Its considered a moderate quake. But this has struck Christchurch, the place where 2 very big quake have stuck in a matter of months
The first, September last year, was 7.1 and caused a lot of damage but noone was killed. In February came a 6.3, and was very shallow. The result: 182 people dead and thousands of buildings and homes destroyed. So the infrasctuture is very damaged and shaky.
Now comes this latest quake.
It was a 5.5, 11 kms deep.
Here are some reports:
A police spokesman said a building on the corner of Stanmore and Worcester streets had collapsed. Police had feared people were trapped, but a search established this was not the case.
Emergency services rescued two people from St John's Church in central Christchurch, fire communications spokeman Iain Lynn said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/...
Buildings already damaged in the central business district area have sustained further damage.
Herald reporter Jarrod Booker, who was at the Riccarton Racecourse attending the coroner's inquest into 106 deaths at the CTV building during the February 22 quake, said there was severe shaking with the ground "moving side-to side".
"People started running out of the building, they were quite frightened."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/...
There have been reports of liquefaction bubbling up from the ground in the central Christchurch suburb of Richmond and the outer suburbs.
Rocks have been seen falling from the hills in Sumner, while the University of Canterbury and Riccarton Mall have both been evacuated.
One Facebook user said they were "not enjoying being up the hill above sumner right now... Saw half a bloody cliff fall from that shake".
There have also been reports of power loss and downed phone lines around Christchurch.
Just as I write this there has been another large aftershock in Christchurch.
They cannot catch a break in Christchurch.
Will keep updating.
7:26 PM PT: St John's Ambulance is reporting six moderately serious injuries
7:27 PM PT: Geonet is reporting the LATEST quake is around a 6.
7:30 PM PT: Christchurch International Airport has been evaucated
7:38 PM PT: Mayor Bob Parker says the second large quake was bigger than the 1pm one.
"Thank God we had evacuated the red zone.
"We are being enveloped with dust. It is very very scary.
"There has been a report of a further collapse of the remnants of the Christchurch Cathedral.
"We need to get a picture of what is really happening and to make a call on where we need to send our essential services."
7:41 PM PT: The second quake was a 6.0: 9km deep (shallow) 10km SE of christchurch
7:54 PM PT: Flights have been grounded through out New Zealand. The National Air traffic control base in Christchurch has been evacuated.
7:54 PM PT: Power out for 54,000 customers of one power company, Orion.
8:01 PM PT: a 4.9 just struck, 10km deep.
8:08 PM PT: Christchurch Hospital is being evacuated
8:13 PM PT: Liqiudification so bad in Addington ( a suburb of christchurch) that the road has sunk and a car has gone in.
8:14 PM PT: Police are evacuating the "red zone" in cbd (the area that was most affected in feburary's quake) because of fears of a gas leak.
8:19 PM PT: Water Pressure in chch is very low. Limit or avoid all water use including toilets.
8:23 PM PT: Flights have resumed throughout New Zealand after a short delay after the center was evacuated.
8:31 PM PT: One runway at Christchurch airport has been damaged.
8:41 PM PT: Christchurch Airport is now closed.
9:24 PM PT: photos of the damage can be viewed here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/...