Big aftershock jolts Christchurch

updated 21:15

Published: 6:04PM Saturday April 16, 2011 Source: ONE News

Christchurch has been jolted by another large aftershock.

The 5.3 shake hit at 5.49pm, 10km north-east of Diamond Harbour at a depth of 11km, and was followed 10 minutes later by a smaller 3.4 shake.

It follows a swarm of quakes throughout the afternoon, most measuring around 3.3 on the Richter scale.

ONE News reporter Lisa Davies was in the TVNZ newsroom, now based in Riccarton, and said the quake was powerful enough for staff to run outside despite being used to the aftershocks.

Residents are reporting items knocked from shelves and Davies herself said her home in Sumner had suffered more breakages and furniture falling.

Another resident said their apartment "shook like crazy".

There are also reports of rock falls in the Sumner-Redcliffs area.

Rocks have fallen on Evans Pass Road and motorists are asked to pass with care.

Local resident Andrew Britt was leaving the Sumner Rugby Club when he hear rocks rolling through.

Britt said there are debris in the roads and a burst water main in Redcliffs, which is firing water straight up into the air.

A water main has also burst on Monkspur Road.

The Lyttelton Tunnel remains open to road users.

In the city area, the Strategy Building on Victoria Street is now leaning, resulting in roads in the vicinity, including Montreal, have been closed.

Debris has fallen, and a power line is down over a digger, at Stanmore shops at corner Stanmore and Worcester streets. Residents are asked to take extra care in the area.

Due to the roading damage, especially in the eastern suburbs, Civil Defence is asking residents to please stay off the roads where possible.

Orion says power had been cut to approximately 20,000 people in pockets scattered across the city, from Fendalton to Heathcote and parts of the CBD.

Power has since been restored to all of these customers by 7:50pm tonight, it said.

They believe most of the outages to have been caused by the automatic safety switches at substations.

Earlier this evening several traffic lights were reported to be out and motorists were being advised to be cautious in dark areas on the roads by lowering their speeds.

As well as the shaking, there are reports of some liquefaction and flooding in the eastern suburbs.

Karen, who lives in Bexley, told ONE News via email more had appeared.

"We have new liquefaction on our property in Brook St. My partner had just finished cleaning out the garage from last liquefaction and it is now got more in there and around the back of our property."

There are also reports of landline phones being down in some areas. Both Telecom and Vodafone are looking into the issue.

The fire service says it has attended more than a dozen call-outs since the aftershock, including a house fire. A number of private alarms have also gone off.

Civil Defence is asking residents of Christchurch to check on their neighbours. It also asks that residents stay home and limit their travel on the roads tonight, and if they are on the roads to be careful of debris on the ground and dark areas on the roads.

There are no reports of injuries.

People posting on the ONE News Facebook site have described the quake as "horrible"

Robyn Dent said it was "violent with loads more stuff broken inside - thankfully we've kept power though!"

In Akaroa, Kaye Miller said it was "huge". "It went on for a long time the noise was horrible... was under the stairs for that one."

Tracey Scarrott also described it as "quite violent" She said it: "lasted for a while, things fell off shelves, scared the kids, my husband looked out our lounge window to see houses across the street moving and the fence. Thank goodness I secured our TV to the wall because that would have gone over."

It was also felt in Timaru, Rebecca Howard said on Facebook. She said it was a "short sharp sudden jolt".

Kasey Amber, who lives near AMI Stadium so badly damaged in the February 22 quake said: "I live in Charleston and it felt real bad. Everything shook and rattled."

As well as the shaking, there are reports of some liquefaction.

Karen, who lives in Bexley, told ONE News via email more had appeared.

"We have new liquifaction on our property in Brook St. My partner had just finished cleaning out the garage from last liquifaction and it is now got more in there and around the back of our property."

There have been six other aftershocks in the Canterbury region today since 12:09am, when there was a 2.9 shake. The others have registered 3.7, two at 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.