7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck 91 km (57 miles) northeast of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand at 1102 GMT on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said.

New Zealand civil defence said tsunami was possible after the earthquake and recommended residents on the east coast to move to higher ground.

The first wave activity may not be the most significant, it said, adding tsumanmi activity would continue for several hours.

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.

The Christchurch Civil Defence Emergency Management said in a Facebook pos, We are currently gathering situational awareness and will share information as it comes in.

At this stage, there have been no significant reports of damage across the city. Expect aftershocks and look after those around you.

The New Zealand government’s GeoNet website said the quake was “felt widely” throughout the country and warned citizens to watch out for aftershocks.

Tamsin Edensor, a mother of two in Christchurch, said the shaking lasted a “long” time.

We were asleep and woken to the house shaking, it kept going and going and felt like it was going to build up, she told AFP.

 

SOURCE: PTI