2016 Christchurch earthquake

For the November 2016 earthquake that affected Christchurch, see 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.

2016 Valentine's Day earthquake
Map showing the epicentre of the earthquake
2016 Christchurch earthquake is located in New Zealand
2016 Christchurch earthquake
UTC time2016-02-14 00:13:44
ISC event608330826
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date14 February 2016 (2016-02-14)
Local time01:13 PM NZDT (UTC+13:00)
Magnitude5.7 ML[1]
Depth8 km (5 mi)
Epicentre43°30′S 172°50′E / 43.50°S 172.83°E / -43.50; 172.83
TypeStrike-slip
Areas affectedNew Zealand
Total damageBuilding collapse, power outages, rockfall, sinkhole
Max. intensityMMI VIII (Severe)[2]
Peak acceleration0.4 g[3]
TsunamiNo
The cliffs of Peacock's Gallop were separated from the road to Sumner by shipping containers stacked two high (photo 2012).

An earthquake occurred in Christchurch on 14 February 2016 at 1:13 p.m. local time (00:13 UTC) and initially recorded as 5.9[4] on the Richter scale, but subsequently reviewed as 5.7.[5] Often referred to as the Valentine's Day earthquake, it was centred in the sea off New Brighton at a depth of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi).[4] It was the first large earthquake that the Christchurch area had experienced since May 2012, and it was part of the earthquake sequence that started with the 4 September 2010 Canterbury earthquake.[6]

A number of cliffs collapsed at Scarborough (Godley Head and Whitewash Head), Richmond Hill, and Sumner (Peacock's Gallop). The shipping containers that were still placed along Peacock's Gallop on Main Road stopped falling rocks from hitting passing cyclists.[7] Two surfers were below Whitewash Head and had car-size rocks crash into the sea around them.[8]

  1. ^ "New Zealand Earthquake Report – Jun 13 2011 at 2:20 pm (NZST)". GeoNet. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Large quake off the coast of Christchurch". GNS Science. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Large quake off the coast of Christchurch". info.geonet.org.nz. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Quake Details". GNS Science. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  5. ^ "GeoNet – Quakes". GeoNet. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  6. ^ "More about the Valentine's Day Earthquake and our probabilities". GNS Science. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Christchurch hit by severe earthquake". The Press. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  8. ^ Tukia, Annabelle (15 February 2016). "Chch surfers 'paddled for their lives' during quake". Newshub. Retrieved 15 February 2016.