Massive Earthquake In Vicinity Of Christchurch, New Zealand

OH! MY! GOD! They are showing the 7.4 magnitude quake epicenter as being only about 7 miles from Andrew's house! I hope he is OK!

Last year, they had a big quake west of the South Island, which affected Invercargill and Queenstown, and a lot of unpopulated areas. This quake, however, affects a pretty heavily-populated area: Canterbury and Otago:

It was felt widely across the South Island, most strongly in Christchurch and Timaru, and there have also been reports of the quake being felt as far as Wellington. Several aftershocks have been felt.

Emergency services say so far only minor injuries have been reported.

Power is out to most of Christchurch and the central city has been closed down by police because of the amount of rubble in the streets. Water pipes have ruptured and there are reports of flooding in some eastern Christchurch areas.

The facades of several inner Christchurch buildings have crashed down onto roads, Christchurch Airport has been closed down because of damage to the runway and several streets and roads are impassable. The surface of Avonside Drive, in eastern Christchurch, has been ripped up.

Colleen Simpson, from Christchurch, said everyone was out in the street in their pyjamas looking scared and worried. There was no power, buildings were down and the mobile network was failing.

"Oh my God. There is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me," she said, from her car.

Simpson and her young family were heading to her sister's house, where there was still power, so everyone could be together.

Authorities have asked people to avoid making mobile phone calls unless it was an emergency as the networks were becoming overloaded.

Some Christchurch residents have reported chimneys have fallen in through roofs, ceilings have cracked and brick walls have collapsed.

Kevin O'Hanlon, from Mairehau in Christchurch, said it was unbelievable.

"Just unbelievable. I was awake to go to work and then just heard this massive noise and, boom, it was like the house got hit. It just started shaking. I've never felt anything like it."

A spokesperson for lines company Orion said sewer lines and water pipes have ruptured, and whole substations are offline.

The Director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, John Hamilton, said that the National Crisis Management Centre has been activated to co-ordinate central government response if required.

Police said damage and power outages have been reported from as far away as Dunedin.

The rail network in the South Island has been shut down while it is inspected for damage.

A number of severe aftershocks have also shaken residents, one of 4.9 magnitude at 5.26am and one was 4.6 magnitude at 5.55am.

Christchurch Press chief reporter Kamala Hayman said power was out in many southern suburbs.

"The first shake tipped books and glasses off our shelves and we are still getting sizeable aftershocks."

Ad Feedback Ryan Shaw, in Christchurch, said "TV fallen off cabinet, books, pot plants everywhere and I'm very shaken."

Roads around the seaside suburbs of New Brighton and Sumner are thronged with cars as worried residents flee any possible tsunami. There has been no tsunami alert issued.