New Zealand Earthquake early Saturday, Powerful 7.4 quake
Category Breaking news, EarthQuake | Friday, September 3rd, 2010
New Zealand Earthquake
The quake, which hit 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of the southern city of Christchurch, shook a wide area with some residents there saying buildings had collapsed and power was severed.
Christchurch police reported some road damage in parts of the city of 400,000 people, with a series of sharp aftershocks rocking the area. Police officers cordoned off some streets where rubble was strewn about from the quake.
Christchurch resident Colleen Simpson said panicked residents ran into the street in their pajamas. Some buildings had collapsed, there was no power, and the mobile telephone network had failed.
“Oh my God. There is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me,” Simpson told the Stuff news website.
Another person from Christchurch, Kevin O’Hanlon, said the jolt was extremely powerful.