Earthquake epicenter near Christchurch. (USGS/Google Maps)
The South Island of New Zealand has been struck by another major earthquake, 5 miles (10 km) southeast of Christchurch, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), less than six months after a major 7.1-magnitude quake hit the city last September.
The 6.3-magnitude quake struck at 12:51 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at a shallow depth of 3.1 miles, according to the USGS.
The quake lasted around one minute and was extremely violent, the New Zealand Herald reported, with buildings rocking back and forth.
There are reports of "widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure" including structures that collapsed and trapped people inside, as well as multiple deaths, according to the New Zealand Police website.
Several buildings are badly damaged or on fire. The earthquake topped the spire of the city's iconic cathedral, Sky News reported.
All phone lines to Christchurch are out and power has been lost throughout the city, with many traffic lights out. According to the Herald, roads are cracked and there is flooding due to burst water mains.
Christchurch resident Frank Endacott, who lives just outside the city, said that the earthquake was so violent he could not stand up, and that he found his 80-year-old neighbour as white as a sheet after the tremors stopped.
Endacott said it was the most frightening experience of his life, adding that he felt a "total sense of helplessness."
GeoNet Science (GNS) in New Zealand told the Herald that this quake was more damaging than the September one due to its shallower depth.
GNS datacenter manager Kevin Fenaughty said the epicenter was in the "worst possible location" for Christchurch, according to the Herald.
"It's a nightmare. A lot of people were just getting back on their feet after the original quake," Fenaughty said.
