New Zealand Earthquake 2010: State of emergency declared after 7.0-magnitude quake

Christchurch, New Zealand – New Zealand’s South Island was hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, the US Geological Survey has said. The epicentre was 55km (35 miles) north-west of Christchurch, at a depth of 12 km (7.5 miles).

State of emergency was declared by authorities after the quake hit New Zealand’s second biggest city, Christchurch, early on Saturday. Christchurch is New Zealand’s second largest city with a population of approximately 372,000.

The 7.0-magnitude quake bringed down power lines, ripped up roads and wrecked building facades. New Zealand authorities reported no deaths.

Authorities were preparing to bring in water in large tankers because pumping stations were out of action and pipes broken.

New Zealand experiences more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which only around 20 have a magnitude in excess of 5.0. The last fatal earthquake was in 1968, when a 7.1-magnitude quake killed 3 people on the South Island’s Western coast.