Structural damage: a brick wall damaged in the quake falls onto a car in Christchurch

Strong earthquake hits New Zealand

A large earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 has rocked New Zealand's second biggest city, Christchurch.

The quake, which had a depth of 33km, was felt throughout much of the South Island and southern parts of the North Island.

It has reportedly caused widespread damage, including the collapse of some buildings. It has also knocked out power and disrupted water services.

Many people with minor injuries sought treatment, but hospitals say there are no reports of any serious injuries.

More

Tags: earthquake, new-zealand

Australia Votes 2010

76 needed to form government

  1. Alain Robert Sticky situation

    A stuntman, known as the French Spiderman, has denied putting lives at risk by scaling a Sydney building.

  2. A pack of wild camels hoard near a leaking water tap in the Northern Territory Desert dish

    The Camel Industry Association is working on a plan to make camel meat a regular addition to the Australian dinner table.

  3. Pleated silk wedding dress and coat Wedded bliss

    Bendigo will host a world premiere exhibition of wedding dresses from London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2011.

  4. Khan: Pakistan has 'our most corrupt government' Video Imran Khan

    In a wide-ranging interview, Imran Khan says lifetime bans for spot-fixing in cricket would be out of proportion.

  5. Stephen Hawking Grand design

    God has no place in theories about the creation of the universe, scientist Stephen Hawking says.

  6. Clarke and Dawe on political fixes Video 7.30 Report

    John Clarke and Bryan Dawe share a few thoughts on political betting.

  7. British Labour leader Tony Blair receives a kiss from his wife Cherie Animal instincts

    Tony Blair reveals intimate details about his wife and describes the sexual shenanigans of other politicians in his memoirs.

  8. The cast from 'Tomorrow, When The War Began', star in a scene from the movie Video Bring it on

    Tomorrow When The War Began could become Australia's teen film franchise, director Stuart Beattie tells the ABC.

  9. Locust Locust attack

    With spring heralding warmer weather, scientists say conditions are ripe for millions of locust eggs to hatch in parts of Australia's south-east.

  10. Titanic rediscovered Video Watch

    The latest expedition to explore the wreck of the Titanic delivers new images of the liner on the ocean floor.

  11. Have your say Have your say

    Tell us your thoughts about issues in the news. We post selected emails on The Drum.

Please select your location to see your local news and weather

World

More

Watch

Video

Emma Alberici reports Britain's foreign secretary faces increasing pressure to explain why he shared a hotel room with a male staff member.

Watch

Video

A 120-kilometre traffic jam has brought gridlock to the highway between Inner Mongolia and Beijing.

Business

More VIDEO Business in 90 sec

ECONOMY

A Reserve Bank official repeated Jim Morrison's warning that, "the future's uncertain and the end is always near."

Entertainment

More VIDEO Entertainment in 90 sec

Video

Video

Tomorrow When The War Began could be the start of Australia's very own teen film franchise.

Pop culture

The identity of The Stig has finally been revealed.

Sport

ABC Grandstand Sport VIDEO Sport in 90 sec

Cricket

They're not big on the man love but Shane Watson and Simon Katich share a strong inner bond.

Swimming

Geoff Huegill and Leisel Jones will lead Australia's charge at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Most Popular

This Hour

Today

This Week

This Month

Best of abc.net.au

Project Eden

Foreign predators are being removed and native species reintroduced on the Peron Peninsula in Shark Bay, WA.

Healthy, wealthy and wise

Benjamin Franklin famously thought so, but is getting out of bed early really good for your health?

Arrival City

The largest migration in history is creating chaotic new cities on the fringe of major metropolises.

The fix

Clarke and Dawe deal with explosive allegations that the federal election was rigged.

The 7:30 Report Foreign Correspondent Lateline Lateline Business Insiders Inside Business 4 Corners Offsiders Landline Australia Network News Radio Australia News Australian Story Business Today AM PM The World Today Correspondents Report NewsRadio Behind the News

This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.

AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)