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 four miles south-southeast from Christchurch, New Zealand, on the nation's south island. Local media reports there have been strong aftershocks and power outages throughout the city.
Christchurch is New Zealand's second largest city with a population of approximately 372,000.
The quake, which hit 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of the southern city of Christchurch, shook a wide area with some residents there saying buildings had collapsed and power was severed.
Christchurch police reported some road damage in parts of the city of 400,000 people, with a series of sharp aftershocks rocking the area. Police officers cordoned off some streets where rubble was strewn about from the quake.
Christchurch resident Colleen Simpson said panicked residents ran into the street in their pajamas. Some buildings had collapsed, there was no power, and the mobile telephone network had failed.
“Oh my God. There is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me,” Simpson told the Stuff news website.
Another person from Christchurch, Kevin O’Hanlon, said the jolt was extremely powerful. But an earthquake of this magnitude could generate a local tsunami, the centre said.
“Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometres of the earthquake epicentre,” the centre said.
“Authorities in the region of the epicentre should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.”
The magnitude was revised downwards from an initial estimate of 7.4, the USGS said.
Related searches:
new zealand, new zealand news, new zealand earthquake, christchurch new zealand, christchurch earthquake, new zealand earthquake 2010, christchurch
