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| Injuries and cliff collapse after 'severe' earthquake strikes close to Christchurch | Injuries and cliff collapse after 'severe' earthquake strikes close to Christchurch |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Several people have been injured and a cliff has collapsed into the sea on New Zealand’s South Island after a “severe” magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck close to Christchurch, which is still rebuilding following a devastating tremor in 2011. | Several people have been injured and a cliff has collapsed into the sea on New Zealand’s South Island after a “severe” magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck close to Christchurch, which is still rebuilding following a devastating tremor in 2011. |
| The earthquake hit shortly after 1pm (11am AEDT) on Sunday, according to GeoNet, which monitors seismic activity in New Zealand. | The earthquake hit shortly after 1pm (11am AEDT) on Sunday, according to GeoNet, which monitors seismic activity in New Zealand. |
| It was centred 15km east of Christchurch and was 31km deep. | It was centred 15km east of Christchurch and was 31km deep. |
| Related: How Christchurch used the earthquake to return the city to its cycling roots | Related: How Christchurch used the earthquake to return the city to its cycling roots |
| Paramedics were responding to a number of calls from people who fell over during the tremor. One building in the city was evacuated after items tumbled down and computer monitors smashed. | Paramedics were responding to a number of calls from people who fell over during the tremor. One building in the city was evacuated after items tumbled down and computer monitors smashed. |
| The shaking also dislodged part of a cliff in Taylor’s Mistake, to the south-east of the city centre. The dramatic moment was captured by Thomas Wieberneit, who posted it on Twitter. | The shaking also dislodged part of a cliff in Taylor’s Mistake, to the south-east of the city centre. The dramatic moment was captured by Thomas Wieberneit, who posted it on Twitter. |
| Wow a 5.7 - caught it at Taylors Mistake #nzquake pic.twitter.com/4TNofSTxgE | Wow a 5.7 - caught it at Taylors Mistake #nzquake pic.twitter.com/4TNofSTxgE |
| The shaking also produced a dust cloud in Sumner, a suburb on the outskirts of Christchurch. | The shaking also produced a dust cloud in Sumner, a suburb on the outskirts of Christchurch. |
| Dust cloud after cliff fall in Sumner 5.9 earthquake just now! pic.twitter.com/Lzn78e5RIO | Dust cloud after cliff fall in Sumner 5.9 earthquake just now! pic.twitter.com/Lzn78e5RIO |
| Christchurch earthquake right now... View of the dust from the cliffs around the folks house #eqnz #christchurch pic.twitter.com/GGeLzhl5T0 | Christchurch earthquake right now... View of the dust from the cliffs around the folks house #eqnz #christchurch pic.twitter.com/GGeLzhl5T0 |
| “Grabbed the TV to stop it falling, books off, car alarms set off by it in the neighbourhood,” Belinda McCammon tweeted. | “Grabbed the TV to stop it falling, books off, car alarms set off by it in the neighbourhood,” Belinda McCammon tweeted. |
| Other people reported roof tiles falling off a building and books falling from shelves. | |
| I thought I tidied this room. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/bxDYuu8Ovg | |
| “Suddenly the air all full of sirens and birds,” another person tweeted. | “Suddenly the air all full of sirens and birds,” another person tweeted. |
| Most people who posted felt reports said it was light but one person said it felt strong. | Most people who posted felt reports said it was light but one person said it felt strong. |
| Geonet rated the quake as severe. It was one of the largest since 2011, and people from across the South Island reported feeling the ground shaking. | |
| The earthquake comes just a week before the fifth anniversary of the 6.3 magnitude February 22, 2011 quake that killed 185 people and flattened large swaths of the city, including the cathedral. Christchurch is still in the process of rebuilding. | The earthquake comes just a week before the fifth anniversary of the 6.3 magnitude February 22, 2011 quake that killed 185 people and flattened large swaths of the city, including the cathedral. Christchurch is still in the process of rebuilding. |
| New Zealand sits on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common. | |
| Australian Associated Press contributed to this report | Australian Associated Press contributed to this report |