This is a 7.8, a major event. (In amount of energy released, this is close to the earthquake that destroyed San Francisco in 1906.) It was centered along the coast of South Island, about 100 miles north of Christchurch. (The remoteness of the area might reduce the damage some.)
In Christchurch (pop around half a million I guess) the US Geological Survey predicts the shaking will be felt as 'strong'. To the north, in the small town of Kaikura, the USGS predicts it will be 'severe'. That level of shaking is associated with considerable damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is aware of this earthquake but doesn't have any Pacific-wide tsunami warnings in effect for it. Local NZ news reports that a local tsunami warning remains in effect and police were warning people to stay away from beaches near the quake. Two confirmed fatalities, one due to an historic building collapsing in Kaikura, another at a farm apparently. Urban search and rescue teams and military helicopters on the way to Kaikura.
The USGS predicted shake maps have the effects concentrated north of the epicenter, up the coast towards Blenheim and Wellington.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/e...778i#pager
Photos of broken windows in Wellington. Light rail trains in Wellington not running until the rails are inspected. People are being advised to stay away from the central business district in Wellington.
Not clear to me whether all the news from Wellington is due to the earthquake being felt more strongly there or due to the news media being centered there. I would expect more damage in Christchurch frankly, since it's nearer the epicenter and sits on soil subject to liquifaction.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/3...le-country
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/3...s-in-shock
USGS models don't predict high loss of life, but do predict quite a bit of damage. They note that most structures in the area are built so as to be earthquake resistant. It will be felt over a wide area, but perhaps not very strongly everywhere.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/e...#executive
They already been several large aftershocks, the largest 6.5, itself a significant earthquake.
http://www.eqc.govt.nz/news/7-5-quake-st...ew-zealand
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zeal...-emergency
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86417711...f-fatality
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37967178
In Christchurch (pop around half a million I guess) the US Geological Survey predicts the shaking will be felt as 'strong'. To the north, in the small town of Kaikura, the USGS predicts it will be 'severe'. That level of shaking is associated with considerable damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is aware of this earthquake but doesn't have any Pacific-wide tsunami warnings in effect for it. Local NZ news reports that a local tsunami warning remains in effect and police were warning people to stay away from beaches near the quake. Two confirmed fatalities, one due to an historic building collapsing in Kaikura, another at a farm apparently. Urban search and rescue teams and military helicopters on the way to Kaikura.
The USGS predicted shake maps have the effects concentrated north of the epicenter, up the coast towards Blenheim and Wellington.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/e...778i#pager
Photos of broken windows in Wellington. Light rail trains in Wellington not running until the rails are inspected. People are being advised to stay away from the central business district in Wellington.
Not clear to me whether all the news from Wellington is due to the earthquake being felt more strongly there or due to the news media being centered there. I would expect more damage in Christchurch frankly, since it's nearer the epicenter and sits on soil subject to liquifaction.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/3...le-country
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/3...s-in-shock
USGS models don't predict high loss of life, but do predict quite a bit of damage. They note that most structures in the area are built so as to be earthquake resistant. It will be felt over a wide area, but perhaps not very strongly everywhere.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/e...#executive
They already been several large aftershocks, the largest 6.5, itself a significant earthquake.
http://www.eqc.govt.nz/news/7-5-quake-st...ew-zealand
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zeal...-emergency
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86417711...f-fatality
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37967178