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New Zealand earthquake today: Powerful magnitude 7.4 quake hits Christchurch | New Zealand earthquake today: Powerful magnitude 7.4 quake hits Christchurch |
(35 minutes later) | |
An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 has hit New Zealand near Christchurch, experts have said. | |
The epicentre was recorded 57 miles north-northeast of Christchurch on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. | |
It struck at the shallow depth of 3.1 miles, 28 miles from the town of Amberley which has a population of 2,000 people. | |
Tremors were felt as far afield as the cities of Dunedin to the south and Wellington on North Island, reports the New Zealand Herald. | |
There have been reports of serious damage of houses in the town of Cheviot on the South Island's east coast. | |
Wayne Timmo from Hamilton in the north east of North Island told Stuff.co.nz: "The water in the neighbour's swimming pool was left sloshing around for about a minute and people woken by the quake came out onto the street to talk about it. | |
"The cat has disappeared and the neighbours dog is upset." | |
He said woke to sound of blinds banging against the windows describing the quake feeling like "a long slow, rolling or almost rotating motion." | |
In 2011, 185 died when a quake struck Christchurch. The city's central business district is still recovering from the disaster with piles of bricks, ruined and abandoned buildings dotting the streets. | |
Memorial plaques marking the spot each of the quake victims died. | |
The city's cathedral in the main square has been left half-ruined after it was deemed too dangerous to repair. | |
The antipodean country lies on the volatile Ring of Fire on the Pacific rim which is known for erupting volcanoes and frequent seismic disturbances. |