Tuesday, June 14, 2011

An earthquake again hit the New Zealand city of Christchurch

The authorities in Christchurch, New Zealand, today ordered to evacuate several buildings in the city after an earthquake of 5.2 magnitude on the Richter scale caused the collapse of a church. About an hour later, Christchurch was hit again by an earthquake of 6.0 magnitude on the Richter scale with epicenter at a depth of 9 kilometers and 14 kilometers north of the city, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The police told New Zealand television channel that two people were rescued from under the rubble of the church of Saint Johns, located in the center of the city, and has so far received reports from citizens about thirty buildings damaged, most partially cracked walls.

At least six people have been moved to various hospitals after suffering injuries, local media reported. According to the first data collected by the municipal authorities, about 10,000 buildings have been left without electricity due to a breakdown caused by the quake. After the earthquake, the television, schools paralyzed the school day and kept the students in the middle waiting for the parents were picking up their children.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, which monitors seismic activity worldwide, the first earthquake's epicenter was located 11 kilometers deep and 10 miles east of Christchurch, the largest city in the country. In this earthquake, the seismic surveys indicated New Zealand was 5.5 degrees on the Richter scale, was followed by a second of 4.4 magnitude and an hour later another 6.0 degrees.

A total of 181 people, including many foreigners, were killed in the earthquake of 6.3 magnitude that struck Christchurch last February. New Zealand sits on the fault between the tectonic plates of the Pacific and Oceania and records about 14,000 earthquakes each year, of which 100 and 150 are strong enough to be perceived.

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