Strong 7.4 quake hits New Zealand near Christchurch

[mike r]

Source: Reuters

A strong earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit New Zealand, just 4 miles (7 km) southeast of Christchurch, in the middle of the night local time, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Friday.

There were no immediate tsunami warnings. USGS earlier said the quake measured 7.3 magnitude. The center of the quake was 41 miles (66 km) deep and it struck at 1635 GMT.

Christchurch, on the east coast of the South Island, is New Zealand's second-largest city with a population of about 342,000 people.

"No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0311646120100903

[HCE SuiGeneris]

1. Wishing them safety.

[itsrobert]

2. Looks to be pretty bad one

Just going by mag. and area. nothing else.

[itsrobert]

3. Christchurch (Māori: Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand

Christchurch (Māori: Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of Christchurch.
The area administered by the Christchurch City Council has a population of 372,600
from wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch

[formercia]

17. Nice town

Been there many years ago. It has a definite English flavor to it. Well worth the trip. Great folks live there.

[jaxx]

4. That's a big one.

[itsrobert]

5. twiter reports: Power knocked out. Damage reported. Evacuations occuring

some damage to airport.

[itsrobert]

6. Nothing on CNN or MSNBC yet

waiting.

[hedgehog]

8. I just looked for New Zealand television reports and there's nothing

at 1:15 EDT - either they haven't had time to get any stories up or else it's nt that big a deal for them.

[bigworld]

10. It also happened at 4.30 this morning there.

I think NZ TV still goes dark overnight. Although ABC TV in Australia is quiet on it too.

The Press newspaper in Christchurch has this up: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4094979/Huge-earthquake-rocks-Christchurch

[HCE SuiGeneris]

14. Could be lack of electricity...

[Submariner]

7. They live on an up-thrusted chunk of plate in the Pacific Rim

with active volcanoes and massive landslides and avalanches.

It must be like living on the front lines of geological disasters. I think I'd like that. Never a dull moment.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. 7.4 is a very healthy quake.

:( :scared: Hope everyone is OK down there.

[bikebloke]

11. My favourite town in New Zealand.

If I could have emigrated there legally, I would have felt that quake.

[bigworld]

12. 5.7 aftershock just now

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010atbp.php

[nashville_brook]

13. here's a map

[Vehl]

15. I hope the people who live there are ok.

7.4 is a huge one :(

[friendly_iconoclast]

16. I hope so, too- I've got friends that live in Christchurch.

I sent an email, hope they're OK

[friendly_iconoclast]

19. UPDATE: My friends in CHCH are okay, but the power's out all over the area.

No damage to their home.

[liberalmuse]

18. I visited there a few months ago...

I have a special place in my heart for New Zealand and the kiwis. They are some of the nicest people I've ever met. I hope the people in and around Christchurch are okay.

[madmom]

20. New Zealand Hit By Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake

Source: NPR

BREAKING NEWS: A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit New Zealand's South Island, causing widespread damage and cutting power.

The quake was centred 30km west of Christchurch and 33km underground. It hit at 4.35am and there have been many reports of damage, including buildings being flattened.

It was felt widely across the South Island, including Christchurch and Timaru, and there have also been reports of the quake being felt as far as Wellington. Several aftershocks have been felt.

The rail network in the South Island has been shut down while it is inspected for damage.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/03/129629938/new-zealand-hit-by-magnitude-7-2-earthquake

[truebrit71]

21. That is a big quake...hope damage is minimal..

..

[NJCher]

22. update

Update at 2:22 pm ET — The U.S. Geological Survey has reduced its measurement of the earthquake to magnitude 7.0. But New Zealand's earthquake experts are calling it was a magnitude 7.4. We have decided to go with the New Zealand measurement, the guidance from our science team being that the New Zealand seismic detectors are probably more accurate on this one due to proximity.

Cher

[SheilaT]

24. I'm under the vague impression

that putting a real precise magnitude on any earthquake is as much an art as a science. Which is why the magnitude on so many quakes gets adjusted afterwards.

But whether a 7.0 or a 7.4, either one is fairly strong. I know a lot depends on just how long the shaking lasted.

I'm sure that someday there's be a major earthquake somewhere in the U.S. outside of California, and then won't we all be surprised.

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. Holy shit! Some friends of mine live in Christchurch- I hope they're ok.

I sent them an email, and I'll report back here with any reply....

[Ian David]

25. Report of aftershocks.

RT @mpoppel RT @AsalaATS: @mpoppel another big aftershock! have a friend who just stated "OMG huge one right now people .
less than 20 seconds ago via TweetDeck
http://twitter.com/mpoppel/status/22916214181

[Ian David]

26. ‘Significant damage’ reported after New Zealand quake Water, power, bridges, roads out across city

‘Significant damage’ reported after New Zealand quake
Water, power, bridges, roads out across city of 350,000; no tsunami expected

A strong earthquake hit near New Zealand’s second-largest city, Christchurch, early Saturday. Authorities said there was extensive damage across the city and there were scores of minor injuries but that so far no major casualties were being reported.

The quake, which was recorded at 4:35 a.m. (1:35 p.m. Friday ET), registered 7.0 on the Richter scale, the U.S. Geological Survey said in Washington. It revised its initial forecast of a moderate impact and was projecting potentially “very heavy damage” in some areas of the city.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no immediate danger of a tsunami.

Civil Defense officials, who activated the National Crisis Management Center about two hours after the quake, said there were numerous collapsed and damaged buildings and reported that power and water services were out across the city. Christchurch Airport was closed, and rail service was shut down across the south island. Several bridges were impassable.

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38993181/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/22914359103