[Pink.]

There have been 'multiple fatalities' after a shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch this afternoon caused buildings to collapse, police have confirmed.

Police said fatalities had been reported at several locations and that two buses had been crushed by falling buildings.

Christchurch resident Jane Smith, who works in the central city, told the Herald a work colleague had just returned from helping rescue efforts after a building facade had collapsed on a bus on Colombo St.

"There's people dead. He was pulling them out of a bus. Colombo St is completely munted."

Police said there were reports of fires in buildings in the central city and of people being trapped.

All available police staff were helping with the rescue operation and the Defence Force had been called in to assist.

Shallow quake
GNS Science said the quake was centred at Lyttelton at a depth of 5km at 12.51pm.

GNS said the earthquake would have caused more damage than the original 7.1 earthquake on September 4 because of its shallow depth.

Its data centre manager Kevin Fenaughty said residents said the quake's epicentre was located in the "worst possible location" for the city.

"It's a nightmare. A lot of people were just getting back on their feet after the original quake."

Another earthquake of 4.5 struck at 1.21pm, 10 km east of Diamond Harbour.

Streets flooded

Herald reporter Jarrod Booker said the shake lasted approximately a minute and was extremely violent - rocking buildings back and forth.

He said people had left buildings and were out on the streets where tarmac had cracked and water mains had burst, causing extensive flooding.

Tuam Street had become a river as water poured from ruptures in the road and was impassable in places.

The whole central city was in grid lock as people tried to evacuate central businesses to check their homes, Jarrod Booker said.

Most traffic lights are out and cars were also having to negotiate around hordes of people on foot.

Jarrod Booker said that he could hear sirens but that it would be difficult for emergency services to access the city because of the gridlock.

"Even sitting in a car you can feel continual shaking on a smaller scale than the original quake," he said.

[mattmanes]

There was an earthquake a long time ago, i think it was like a 9 or 10. something... It knocked the earth off its axis

[happy]

Not again! It hasn't been that long since the last one. Am i right, just a few months back?

[Pink.]

the chilean earthquake was rumored to have interfered with the earths axis somehow, but I haven't read anything else about it.

[mattmanes]

Originally Posted by Pink. ↗

the chilean earthquake was rumored to have interfered with the earths axis somehow, but I haven't read anything else about it.

I believe it shortened each by no noticeble amount

[Eaton]

.

[Illusion]

Every time there is an earthquake there I worry about the weirdo Downunder.

[mattmanes]

Ill fuck that red ****** in the ass... Every time, there is a quake, I worry about the earth getting knocked off its axis or into a new orbit.... that, my friend, would be the end of days

[Wiggly]

2012 is coming

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Illusion ↗

Every time there is an earthquake there I worry about the weirdo Downunder.

Thanks sweety,

on a more serious note, 17 confirmed dead, many missing.