Third quake in less than a year rattles Christchurch

The quakes in New Zealand‘s second city levelled a building and injured at least six people.

New Zealand’s Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) Institute recorded the strongest of the quakes at a magnitude of 6.0 at 2.20pm local time, with four tremors in total above 4.3.

Prime Minister John Key said that although the tremors invoked memories of February’s tragedy for local residents, damage this time around was minimal by comparison.

“These latest aftershocks have caused a new level of concern and upset for Christchurch residents who have found them frightening and unsettling,” Mr Key said.

“Power is out in some areas and there is further damage to water and waste water services. It’s another blow to the Christchurch residents who have already endured so much. However today’s events in no way weaken the government’s long term commitment to rebuild Christchurch and surrounding areas”.

Today’s events in no way weaken the government’s long term commitment to rebuild Christchurch and surrounding areas. Prime Minister John Key

Shopping malls and office buildings were evacuated across the city, which is still trying to recover after the magnitude 6.3 quake caused extensive damage.

A building in the city centre collapsed and minor damage occurred in buildings affected in previous earthquakes, police said.

The local ambulance service said six people had been taken to hospital with moderately serious injuries, all caused by falling building materials.

Parts of the eastern city, which suffered the most damage in February’s tremor, suffered from flooding and liquefaction – where solid ground is turned into liquid by the force of the quake.

Power was cut to about 10,000 houses. Christchurch has experienced a number of strong earthquakes since a magnitude 7.1 quake struck the city on 4 September last year.

Read more: New Zealand remembers earthquake victims

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said “The great news is we have not lost lives. There have been some reports of some minor injuries but by and large everybody is fine and we need to think that way.We have to get through it again.

“There will be a few wobbles overnight but let’s stay calm.”

The New Zealand Herald is reporting that around 50,000 homes in the area remain without power and 50 buildings in the city are likely to come down as a result of the latest quakes.

The cost to rebuild Christchurch after the quakes has been estimated at around £7.5bn.

Click on the image to see more photos from today’s earthquake in Christchurch.