Strong Quake Shakes Christchurch
A strong earthquake rattled New Zealand at 4:35 a.m. local time Saturday morning. The USGS posted a magnitude of 7.2.
The quake epicenter was 4 miles south-southeast from Christchurch, New Zealand, on the nation’s south island. Local media reports there have been strong aftershocks and power outages all through the town.
Christchurch is New Zealand’s second largest city with a population of roughly 372,000.
Christchurch, the biggest metropolis in New Zealand’s South Island, was extensively damaged early these days by a huge 7.4-magnitude earthquake that flattened buildings, ripped up roads and cut power, water and sewage connections.
New Zealand geologists have changed their estimate of the size of earthquake that hit close to the city of Christchurch, saying it was magnitude 7.1. That brings it closer to the magnitude 7.0 quake estimated by the U.S. Geological Service a quantity of hours earlier.
While there appears to be a lot destruction and disruption in Christchurch, there so far has been a surprisingly low number of reported casualties in New Zealand following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake.
Seismologists said the quake was centered about 19 miles west of the metropolis, and brought on extensive harm because it was centered only 6 miles underground.
Only two serious injuries had been reported and officials stated mass casualties were avoided because the quake struck at 4:35 a.m. when most individuals had been nonetheless asleep.
There were reports of serious harm at the port of Lyttelton, 7 miles from the metropolis centre, but no tsunami warning was issued.
As aftershocks continued to shake the town of nearly 400,000, police closed the central business district – where roads were blocked by the fallen facades of office blocks – because of the threat of further collapses.
News reviews stated police had been investigating reviews of looting of wrecked shops and companies.
People, many nonetheless in pajamas, reportedly walked the streets in a daze, inspecting devastated houses that looked as though they had been bombed. The Avon River overflowed its banks, causing floods as the quake struck.
Buildings had been destroyed, infrastructure including water and sewage pipes damaged, and people injured within the quake, which struck 40km west of Christchurch at 4.35am.
Christchurch residents stated the walls of their homes “wobbled like jelly” when the earthquake rocked the metropolis.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has requested the army to assist provide safety and safety within the city within the wake of the country’s most damaging earthquake because the 1931 Napier disaster.
Parker stated he requested Prime Minister John Crucial ask the army to preserve safety and security and help the police over the subsequent 24 hours, Stuff.co.nz reports.
The cost from the cleanup could run into billions of dollars, Prime Minister John Key said.