February 14, 2016
A 5.7 magnitude quake (click here) struck Christchurch at 1.13pm and was felt as far north as Wellington.
• A cliff has collapsed in Sumner
• Shelves have fallen in homes, shops and libraries but so far no reports of serious injuries or damage.
• Riccarton Mall, Northlands Mall, Ballantynes and Colombo Mall have been evacuated.
• Spark is urging people to text or use data where possible to stop phone lines overloading.
• Police say at least 450 homes are without power
• Aftershocks are continuing
It is offshore and not along the trench.. The land mass in the picture below right isn't accurate. The land in this area is far smaller in miles from east to west then most other areas of New Zealand. There are also two bays and open water along that area. It is by far the weakest area of New Zealand when it comes to land stability. New Zealand is not that far from the Emerald Fracture Zone. Movement at the fracture zone could prompt a weaker area to quake. The fracture zone is just south of the Campbell Plateau.
