[Kerry]

Quake-Hit New Zealand City Hit By New Shocks

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit New Zealand's quake-hit city of Christchurch, prompting the evacuation of a building holding an inquest into February's deadly tremor. The US Geological Survey measured the quake, which hit just 6 miles from Christchurch, at 5.2-magnitude and a depth of about 7 miles.

An aftershock measuring 4.4 hit the area some eight minutes later.

Police said they had received some reports of damage in the city, including flooding, and fears remained of people trapped inside buildings.

At least one building collapsed in the latest quake, with at least two people being rescued from the rubble by fire crews.

Reports indicate that power has been cut to the homes of at least 10,000 customers.

Much of central Christchurch remains closed off since a 6.3-magnitude quake on February 22 levelled buildings, killing 181 people in the country's deadliest earthquake for 80 years.

Christchurch cathedral dean Peter Beck described the latest quake as "very big".

An inquest into the collapse of one of these buildings, which began Monday, was briefly evacuated following the latest tremor.

Sky News

[joeysteele]

This worries me as I have friends in New Zealand, fortunately on North Island though at present.