A ‘huge’ earthquake has just rocked New Zealand, according to breaking news reports this morning.
The ‘quake is said to have struck close to Christchurch, on New Zealand’s East Coast, but was felt as far away as Wellington and Cheviot.
While speculation has put the magnitude at various different points of the Richter Scale, a number of sources are placing it at 7.4.
New Zealand earthquake of 7.4 mag was land based some 80km Nth of Christchurch pic.twitter.com/DdcEsmnCzS
— Mark Hanrahan (@MarkHanrahan9) November 13, 2016
The earthquake is reported to have struck about 80km from Christchurch in the early hours of the morning, local time.
A number of people who experienced the ‘quake have taken to Twitter to share their insight.
Yowzer! Now they say 6.5 Hanmer not 7.5 Cheviot pic.twitter.com/7smm8fLSgd
— Alyson Baker (@Shiretane) November 13, 2016
#eqnz blimey Wellington pic.twitter.com/l0AQRazD1U
— Kate Camp (@Augengrau) November 13, 2016
That was enormous in Wellington. Must have been horrific in Christchurch #eqnz
— Simon (@simon_ob) November 13, 2016
“Yowzer!” wrote one local, sharing a photo of a shelving unit collapsed on her bed.
Meanwhile, another tweeter described the impact in Wellington as ‘enormous’.
Naturally, people have taken to social media to check that everyone is doing OK after the frightening ordeal.
You ok New Zealand? #earthquake
— Grumplestiltskin (@2FBS) November 13, 2016
Just reading about the New Zealand earthquake - hope all my #nzlead buddies are ok (and everyone else too!)
— Simon Jones (@ariadneassoc) August 16, 2013
Woah hope everyone is ok with that New Zealand earthquake! Shaky Isles or what?! I'm ok over in Australia!
— Liz Carlson (@YoungAdventures) November 13, 2016
We're sending love to everyone in New Zealand today, and hope that everyone is safe.
We will keep you updated as more information emerges.
