[RIP Leongsam] Severe 6.4 magnitude earthquake jolts New Zealand

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Severe 6.4 magnitude earthquake jolts New Zealand

Date January 6, 2015 - 6:06AM

Canterbury in New Zealand has been rocked by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, the second biggest since the deadly February 2011 quake.

According to GeoNet, the earthquake on New Zealand's South Island was located 35km north of Methven at 6.48 am. It was 10km deep and has been identified as "severe" by GeoNet.

It was then followed by a string of aftershocks in the area ranging in magnitude from 3.2 to 4.2 at 7am, all less than 11km deep.



Sumner cliffs pictured in 2011. Many clifftop houses were destroyed, or left in perilous positions after the February earthquake. Illustration: Don Scott

The area had been rocked by two powerful earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 which destroyed scores of buildings. The 2011 quake left 185 dead.

On Tuesday morning West Coast and Darfield police staff were on their way to Arthur's Pass as a precaution, said a spokesman.

He said police had not received any reports of damage or injury across Canterbury and the West Coast.



Thousands have recorded "felt reports" after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake, 35km from Methven. Illustration: Geonet

Local reader Danyal Taylor is staying in Castle Hill, about 15km from the epicentre. She had no damage. "We were in bed when it happened and it lasted for about 15-20 seconds."

Of nearly 2000 "felt reports" recorded on GeoNet's website only a handful recorded the intensity as "strong".

Tim Oram in Belfast said his bed shook and the house creaked.



Earthquake drum during 6.4 magnitude quake 35km from Methven.

One Christchurch-based Twitter user said the quake "felt like the house was at sea".

One Twitter user reported feeling the quake in Franz Josef.

Cheryl Bernstein said it was an "extraordinary swaying earthquake".

Karen Foreman-Brown said the quake was large enough to have set off alarms in her neighbourhood.

On the Stuff.co.nz Facebook page, Jackie Cooper said she felt the earthquake in Golden Bay, and Dale Wedlock said he felt it in Dunedin.

Other people reported feeling the shake in Hawarden, Banks Peninsula and Papanui.

Don Gutsell said he had photos swinging at his house in Temuka.

Stuff.co NZ, Fairfax





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