Powerful quake strikes New Zealand South Island

[webfact]

Powerful quake strikes New Zealand South Island

 

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.4 quake hit some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch.

 

Christchurch is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed the city centre.

 

New Zealand lies on the notorious Ring of Fire, the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.

 

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37967178

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2016-11-13

[webfact]

Severe M6.6 Earthquake, 15 km SE of Hanmer Springs

38 minutes ago · 

GNS Science (GeoNet)

This alert has been updated.

 

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred 15 km SE of Hanmer Springs, New Zealand at Mon Nov 14 2016 12:02 AM (NZDT). 
The quake was 16 kilometres deep and the intensity was severe close to the quake. The quake may have been felt in Blenheim, French Pass, Picton, Seddon, Wellington, Arthur's Pass, Collingwood, Greymouth, Hokitika, Karamea, Motueka, Murchison, Nelson, Reefton, St Arnaud, Westport, Akaroa, Amberley, Ashburton, Cheviot, Christchurch, Culverden, Geraldine, Hanmer Springs, Kaikoura, Methven, Oxford and surrounding localities.

 

Full story: https://www.google.org/publicalerts/alert?aid=5b0fc6b93e021c24&hl=en&gl=SG&source=web

 

[webfact]

Powerful quake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand 

 

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A powerful earthquake has struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch, with strong jolts felt over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington.

 

There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries. There was no immediate danger of a tsunami, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

 

The magnitude-7.4 quake struck just after midnight Sunday and was centered 93 kilometers (57 miles) northeast of Christchurch, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Earthquakes tend to be more strongly felt on the surface when they're shallow.

 

New Zealand sits on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common. An earthquake in 2011 in Christchurch killed 185 people.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-11-13

[webfact]

Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand – reports

 

© earthquake.usgs.gov

 

A powerful earthquake has hit northeast of Christchurch, a city in New Zealand, according to the US Geological Survey. Twitter reports from locals talk of “enormous” shaking felt in Wellington and Cheviot.

The quake was centered 46km from the town of Amberley with about 2,000 people, and 70km from the town of Kaiapoi with 10,000 residents, according to the USGS. The tremor had a shallow depth of 5 km.

Family friends in Cheviot say some houses are gone #eqnz

— Brodie (@toadbrode) November 13, 2016

The quake also took place 86km from the town of Christchurch which was struck by a powerful earthquake back in 2011. At least 185 people were killed and hundreds injured after the 6.3 magnitude quake hit the town.

According to GeoNet online service, the magnitude of the quake is 6.6 with a depth of 16km. The service added that the "very large" tremor was felt through much of the country.

Yowzer! Now they say 6.5 Hanmer not 7.5 Cheviot pic.twitter.com/7smm8fLSgd

— Alyson Baker (@Shiretane) November 13, 2016

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported that the quake was felt in North Island.

Full story: https://www.rt.com/news/366772-zealand-quake-damage-threat/

-- RT 2016-11-13

[webfact]

Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand: USGS

 

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck 91 km (57 miles) north-northeast of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand just after midnight (1102 GMT Sunday), the U.S. Geological Survey said.

 

Christchurch is the biggest city on New Zealand's South Island. A 6.3 quake there in February 2011 killed 185 people and caused widespread damage.

 

Full story: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-quake-newzealand-idUKKBN1380CJ

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2016-11-13

[webfact]

Earthquake hits New Zealand

 

(CNN)A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand's South Island on Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the USGS said. No tsunami warning has been issued.

Full story: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/13/asia/new-zealand-earthquake/index.html

 

-- © Copyright CNN 2016-11-13

[Guest]

It's weird that there are so different estimates of the magnitude of the quake.

NZ geonet still says it was 6.6, while almost all others estimate that the quake was in range of 7.4 all the way to 7.9.

 

http://www.geonet.org.nz/quakes/region/newzealand/2016p858000

 

Lot's of M5+ aftershocks 

 

Tsunami alert issued. 

 

 

[Wilsonandson]

What is going on? Other places in the world have also had major earthquakes today.

[Wilsonandson]

More pictures and video of the quake.

[Wilsonandson]

Some photo's of the New Zealand quake aftermath.

[gomangosteen]

What a time to be in Wellington. Quakes not limited to South island, rocking here since 12.02am, numerous quakes in lower North island

 

That first hour after 12.02am, excluding the small ones:

7.5, 4, 5.6, 5.1, 4.2, 4.2, 5.6, 5.4, 4.4, 5.2, 6.2, 5.5, 5.5, 5.5, 5.6, 3.4, 4.2, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.0, 4.6, 3.2, 6.2, 4.9, 4.0, 4.8
 

And they keep coming, another 5.0 six min ago

 

See http://www.geonet.org.nz/quakes/all

 

[webfact]

Powerful earthquake strikes New Zealand, killing 2 people

By NICK PERRY

 

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island early Monday, killing at least two people, causing damage to buildings and infrastructure, and prompting emergency services to warn people along the coast to move to higher ground to avoid tsunami waves.

 

The magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck just after midnight in a mostly rural area that's dotted with small towns. Near the epicenter, it opened up snaking fissures in roads and triggered landslides.

 

It caused damage in Wellington, the capital, more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) to the north and was also strongly felt in the city of Christchurch to the south. Residents said the shaking went on for about three minutes, and was followed by a number of strong aftershocks.

 

Police said one person died in the small coastal town of Kaikoura and another in Mt. Lyford, a nearby ski resort.

The quake completely cut off road access to Kaikoura, said resident Terry Thompson, who added that electricity and most phones were also down in the town of 2,000, a popular destination for tourists taking part in whale-watching expeditions.

 

Thompson was out of town but managed to reach his wife by cellphone during the night before her phone died.

"She said the glass exploded right out of the double ranch-slider," he said. "The neighbor's chimney was gone, there were breakages and things smashed everywhere."

 

His wife helped a 93-year-old neighbor and a tourist into her car and drove to higher ground, he said.

"They stayed in the car all night but couldn't sleep," Thompson said. "They're all very, very tired and concerned about the state of their property."

 

Prime Minister John Key said waves of about 2 meters (6.6 feet) hit the coast but the tsunami threat had since been downgraded to coastal warnings.

 

He said authorities had no reason to believe the death toll would rise above the two reported fatalities.

 

"On the very best information we have at the moment, we think it's only likely to be two. But of course there are isolated parts of the country which we don't have perfect eyes on, so we can't be 100 percent sure," he said.

 

Key said officials had decided not to declare a national emergency because the nation's regions were able to adequately cope with the situation.

 

The quake temporarily knocked out New Zealand's emergency call number, 111, police reported. In Wellington, it collapsed a ferry loading ramp, broke windows and caused items to fall from shelves. It also forced hundreds of tourists onto the streets as hotels were evacuated.

 

Authorities in Wellington were urging people who work in the center of the city to stay home on Monday. City officials said that some large buildings were showing signs of structural stress, and the quake would likely have caused a mess in some buildings. The city's suburban rail network was shut while crews checked tracks, bridges and tunnels.

 

The quake brought back memories of the magnitude-6.3 earthquake that struck Christchurch in 2011, destroying much of the downtown area and killing 185 people. That quake was one of New Zealand's worst disasters, causing an estimated $25 billion in damage.

 

Although Monday's quake was stronger, its epicenter was deeper and much farther from major urban areas. Location, depth and other factors beyond magnitude all contribute to the destructive power of an earthquake.

 

New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management reported that a tsunami wave struck at about 1:50 a.m. and warned residents living in low-lying areas anywhere along the country's east coast to move to higher ground.

 

There was confusion about the tsunami threat throughout the morning. The ministry initially said there was no threat but later wrote on Twitter "situation has changed - tsunami is possible" before reporting that a tsunami had hit.

 

When the quake hit, Christchurch resident Hannah Gin had just sat down in her living room to watch a replay of the national rugby team's weekend match against Italy when her house started shaking. Upstairs, her mother let out a scream.

 

The 24-year-old is accustomed to quakes in the temblor-prone region, so she said she sat calmly and waited, figuring the rumbling would stop in a few seconds. Instead, she said by telephone, the shaking went on and on — for at least three minutes, according to the clock on her phone.

 

The quake was far less violent than the one that struck Christchurch in 2011, Gin said, adding that there was no jarring up and down or side to side, just a long, rolling sensation. But it went on for much longer than the typical quakes that strike the area, she said. She was less concerned about running for cover than she was about vomiting from the motion sickness, she said.

 

"I could hear the sliding door sliding back and forth, and we've got washing hanging up and I could see the washing moving," Gin said. "It just kept going and going."

 

She said her house, which was damaged in the 2011 quake, did not appear to have sustained any new damage Monday. She also said she had heard from many of her friends who live in the city, and all were safe.

 

"As far as I know, everyone's fine," she said. "We're all just really shaken."

 

The quake was centered 93 kilometers (57 miles) northeast of Christchurch, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS initially estimated it had a magnitude of 7.4 before revising it to 7.8. It said the quake struck at a depth of 23 kilometers (14 miles), after initially putting the depth at 10 kilometers (six miles). Earthquakes tend to be more strongly felt on the surface when they are shallow.

 

New Zealand, with a population of 4.7 million, sits on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common.

___

Associated Press writer Kristen Gelineau in Sydney contributed to this report.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-11-14

[webfact]

Casualties confirmed in New Zealand earthquake

Alasdair Sandford

 

 

CHRISTCHURCH: -- The authorities in New Zealand have confirmed there have been casualties in the powerful earthquake that struck the South Island around 90 kilometres north of Christchurch.

 

Prime Minister John Key has said two people were killed. Police said one of the victims was found in a house in the coastal tourist town of Kaikoura, near the quake’s epicentre.

 

The region that bore the brunt of the 7.8 magnitude tremor was north of Christchurch on the South Island, where there were reports of injuries and collapsed buildings.

 

It generated a tsunami: the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management warned of the risk of destructive waves along the entire east coast, warning people to move to higher ground.

 

At a specially-convened news conference the prime minister said:
“We now know that those around the country that tsunami risk has been downgraded to coastal warnings. But we also urge people to continue to be cautious”.

 

John Key added that a military helicopter was being dispatched to Kaikoura. Social media saw many appeals for news of people in the town.

 

Officials in Cheviot, a coastal town near the quake’s epicentre, evacuated residents. In Wellington glass fell from buildings into the streets, and hotels and apartment buildings were evacuated. The city council reported structural damage to several buildings.

 

Christchurch was devastated by a 6.3 earthquake in 2011 that left 185 people dead and damaged the city centre.

New Zealand lies in the earthquake-prone “Ring of Fire” region that partly encircles the Pacific Ocean, where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-11-14

[Kiwiken]

South Island hit again. Was 3 minute roll for us in Central Canterbury but further North more violent. Little damage here but Kaikoura , Cheviot, Hanmer Springs, Waiau pretty badly hit with damge through to and including Wellington. With another Super moon tonight expect more activity.Sadly so far 2 confirmed dead. Some tidal activity and sadly too looting.

Kaikoura cut off. military Choppers in first light to see what help is needed. We are used to this but still frays the Nerves. Kia Kaha everyone

[NumbNut]

11 minutes ago, Kiwiken said:

South Island hit again. Was 3 minute roll for us in Central Canterbury but further North more violent. Little damage here but Kaikoura , Cheviot, Hanmer Springs, Waiau pretty badly hit with damge through to and including Wellington. With another Super moon tonight expect more activity.Sadly so far 2 confirmed dead. Some tidal activity and sadly too looting.

Kaikoura cut off. military Choppers in first light to see what help is needed. We are used to this but still frays the Nerves. Kia Kaha everyone

 

Yeah, so soon after the last one too. The South Island can't take a trick can it... such a beautiful part of the world, so sorry to hear about this.

 

Shocking images and news reports coming in, some serious structural damage evident. Hoping that death toll doesn't rise... chin up my ANZAC mates!

[daveAustin]

All the best, NZ.

[Scott]

My thoughts are with the people in the affected areas.   In addition to the damage and casualties caused, it is psychological devastating to deal with it when the very earth on which we stands suddenly isn't secure.  

 

 

[webfact]

Magnitude 6.2 quake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand - USGS

Reuters

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A strong new earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck New Zealand's South Island on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, hours after a more powerful quake killed two people and damaged buildings along the east coast of the South Island.

 

The latest quake was initially measured with a magnitude of 6.8. It struck at about 1.45 p.m. local time (0045 GMT) at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Christchurch, the USGS said.

 

Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/magnitude-6-2-quake-strikes-near-christchurch-zealand-005948797.html

 

-- YAHOO! NEWS 2016-11-14

[natway09]

It does not matter how many you have experienced  these things are frightening.

Hang in there Nz 

[jpinx]

I lived for 3 years in Peru.  Earthquakes were just part of life there, usually around the time of a big moon.  Now there is a super-moon, expect more quakes.  The earth's crust is just as much affected by the pull of the Moon's gravity as the oceans are, but the crust is brittle and "gives" in a spasmodic way, unlike the smooth flow of water according to the tides.  

[williamgeorgeallen]

i had never heard that the moon can have an effect on earthquakes. my property manager has said my houses in christchurch are ok and property damage there is minimal. just as well as i still have not got the payout from the damage that was caused by the 2011 earthquakes. looks like the coastal towns further north wore the brunt of this one. still cant find much info on the fatalities.

[ttl]

Try      STUFF.CO.NZ   for good updates

 

[jpinx]

4 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

i had never heard that the moon can have an effect on earthquakes. my property manager has said my houses in christchurch are ok and property damage there is minimal. just as well as i still have not got the payout from the damage that was caused by the 2011 earthquakes. looks like the coastal towns further north wore the brunt of this one. still cant find much info on the fatalities.

 

All due respect to EuroKiwis, but I believe the Maori have this knowledge in their folklore.  Certainly the Peruvian tribes all know about it, and statistically is is not difficult to see.

[ballpoint]

Lucky cows following landslides caused by the earthquake...

[Stargeezr]

Wow  New Zealand, definitely could use a break.  Good Luck.

Geezer

[Kiwiken]

5 hours ago, ballpoint said:

Lucky cows following landslides caused by the earthquake...

 

[Kiwiken]

Given the problems with logistics into the area unlikely they can save those cows. Most likely scenario is they will have to shoot them to stop them starving to death

[12lem1]

8 hours ago, ballpoint said:

Lucky cows following landslides caused by the earthquake...

Good news story http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/stranded-quake-cows-rescued-2016111510?ref=newshubFB

[Kiwiken]

Good to see US and Australian ships arriving to give much needed assistance

[12lem1]

Yes its International Rescue, 4 Navy ships from NZ, and one from Canada.  The seal breeding colony has been destroyed, the seabed at Ward Beach has risen 1.8mt, plenty of Paua on offering.  This is the latest link on http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/nz-earthquake/86506144/earthquake-navy-ships-heading-to-kaikoura-helicopter-evacuations-set-to-increase