Thousands face power outages after quakes rock New Zealand again, killing 1

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND (BNO NEWS) — Around 15,000 homes remain without electricity after two earthquakes rocked Christchurch, New Zealand on Monday afternoon, local media reported.

New Zealand’s seismological agency reported a 5.5-magnitude earthquake some 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep just southeast of Christchurch, the country’s second-most populated city, which is located in the South Island, at around 1 p.m. local time. At 2:20 p.m. local time, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake was registered in the same area at a depth of about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles).

One person was reported to have been killed as a result of the earthquake, and around a dozen others were hospitalized due to injuries, the New Zealand Herald reported, adding that dozens more were treated at emergency departments.

Meanwhile, District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said around 50 buildings – most of them already damaged from previous earthquakes – were needed to be demolished. In addition, 15,000 houses remained without power after initial reports said approximately 56,000 customers had lost electricity, Orion’s general manager Rob Jamieson said. Schools were closed and regional officials also asked residents to avoid traveling, as personnel assess damages.

On February 22, 181 people were killed after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the same region. The quake hit the region just five months after the area was severely damaged by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in September 2010. Fortunately, only two residents were reported seriously injured in the 2010 earthquake.

New Zealand’s deadliest earthquake happened on February 3, 1931 when a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Hawke’s Bay region. It left at least 256 people killed while thousands more were injured.