New Zealand shook because of the earthquake

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, earlier (September 4), severing many wires, cracking roads and destroying many buildings.

No information about death. Authorities have announced emergency civil status to coordinate rescue operations in the city of 350,000 people after the facades of many houses hit the streets, crashing into cars and causing traffic congestion.

The car collapsed because of the brick wall pouring in when the earthquake struck. (Photo: China Daily)

There were two serious injuries and police sealed off the central business area.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10km, attacking the city on the South Island and many surrounding farm areas at 4:35 am local time.

" There is a lot of damage I witnessed in the downtown area, mostly old brick buildings. Some are walled down ," Mayor Bob Parker told New Zealand Radio.

There were no deaths. (Photo: China Daily)

The city hospital received two seriously injured men, one was smashed into a chimney, one was hit by broken glass. The hospital is also treating some other people with broken bones, skin abrasions.

Police said there had been a number of incidents, but they were quick to stop. In the suburbs, many houses have broken windows, chimneys, cracked walls while furniture falls off shelves.

Electricity was lost on a large scale, in a large part of the city and surrounding areas, but was quickly restored after safety tests.

A part of the road was broken after an earthquake. (Photo: China Daily)

The city airport had to be shut down for authorities to check the runways and other facilities. Damage and metro systems throughout the region were also assessed for damage.

Because earthquakes occur on the island, there is no risk of tsunamis.

The travel is interrupted by car many roads are damaged. (Photo: China Daily)

New Zealand scientists statistics about 14,000 earthquakes each year, with the top 20 strong 5-degree Ritcher matches.

The last deadly earthquake in this country was in 1968, with a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale, killing three people on the west coast of South Island.