Major quake hits Christchurch New Zealand

My thoughts are with our Kiwi friends in Christchurch, hope you are all safe and well.

spud


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/22/3145320.htm


Major quake hits Christchurch

Updated 7 minutes ago
A car lies under rubble after part of a building collapsed during the earthquake.

A car lies under rubble after part of a building collapsed during the earthquake. (twitpic.com/42dsk3: Laura Campbell)



A powerful earthquake has struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch bringing down buildings and buckling roads, with reports of serious injuries.

The US Geological Survey says the quake was 6.3 in magnitude and struck five kilometres from the city at a shallow depth of just four kilometres.

It says the quake hit shortly before 12:50pm (local time), just five kilometres to the north-west of the city.

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The ABC's New Zealand correspondent, Dominique Schwartz, says the quake has brought down facades and buildings, and has created flooding in main streets due to burst water mains.

All phone lines to the city on the South Island are down and Orion Energy says large parts of the city appear to be without power.

Pictures show cars that have been crushed by bricks and parts of buildings. Christchurch Cathedral has been badly damaged, with images showing parts of its roof and walls crumbled.

The hospital has also been damaged and is reported to have been evacuated.

A New Zealand Herald reporter says the quake lasted for about a minute and was extremely violent.

Many people are now out on the streets.

TV NZ is reporting that the Christchurch police station has been evacuated.

Twitter users have reported feeling the quake in Wellington and Dunedin.

Christchurch was struck by a major 7.1-magnitude earthquake in September last year.

That quake was felt through much of the South Island and caused widespread damage. Tweet