Magnitude-5.8 quake shakes New Zealand city of Christchurch

NICK PERRY, Associated Press


WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A magnitude-5.8 earthquake shook the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Sunday but there were no immediate reports of serious damage, nearly five years after a deadly, more powerful quake destroyed much of the city center.

The quake was strong enough to prompt some stores to evacuate customers and shake items from shelves. Police said there were some rockfalls on Scarborough Hill in the city's east and were advising people to stay away from affected areas.

The St. John ambulance service reported that several people had suffered minor injuries from falls as they ran from the quake.

The earthquake came close to the anniversary of the Feb. 22, 2011, magnitude-6.3 temblor that leveled much of the center of New Zealand's second largest city and killed 185 people.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that Sunday's quake was centered 17 kilometers (11 miles) east of the city at a relatively shallow depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles). Shallow earthquakes tend to be felt more strongly. No tsunami warning was issued.

The quake was one of the largest since 2011, and people from across the South Island reported feeling the ground shaking.

New Zealand sits on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-14

Chin up Cantabrians. We can deal with this.

2016 and science stil can't forecast these with any accuracy. Maybe it's better not to know in advance if the forecasts are imprecise.

No reported serious injuries so far that I noticed in the news.

However, It goes to confirm my feelings that it was not a good idea to try and rebuild it in the same place. The big one wasn't the only one that will be experienced.

https://www.tvnz.co....-5-7-quake-hits

No reported serious injuries so far that I noticed in the news.

However, It goes to confirm my feelings that it was not a good idea to try and rebuild it in the same place. The big one wasn't the only one that will be experienced.

https://www.tvnz.co....-5-7-quake-hits

I agree with you, if an 8.2 (like the 1855 one in Wellington) hits Christchurch most buildings won't survive and the loss of life would be tragic.

A lot of unlucky home owners are still being relocated from the last quake.

Last I heard 1,800 + of them are not being allowed to rebuild on the same land due to its instability.

Hang in there ChCh

Chin up Cantabrians. We can deal with this.

Yes, I will you and your mates good luck.