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| Local date | 1 September 1888 |
|---|---|
| Local time | 04:10 |
| Magnitude | 7.0–7.3[1] |
| Depth | 12 km[1] |
| Epicentre | 42°36′S 172°24′E / 42.6°S 172.4°E[1] |
| Areas affected | South Island New Zealand |
| Casualties | 1 fatality (indirect) |
The 1888 North Canterbury earthquake occurred at 4:10 am on 1 September following a sequence of foreshocks that started the previous evening, and whose epicentre was in the North Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. The epicentre was approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) west of Hanmer.
In Christchurch, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of the epicentre, shaking lasted for 40 to 50 seconds. The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated to be in the range 7.0–7.3. Severe damage to farm buildings in the epicentral region was reported and the top 7.8 metres (26 ft) of the spire of ChristChurch Cathedral collapsed. It was the first earthquake observed to be associated with mainly horizontal fault displacement.[2]
- ^ a b c "M 7.0 North Canterbury Sat, Sep 1 1888". GNS Science. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ^ Grapes, Rodney (October 2006). "Alexander McKay and the Discovery of Lateral Displacement on Faults in New Zealand". Centaurus. 48 (4): 298–313. Bibcode:2006Cent...48..298G. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0498.2006.00049.x.