Asia-Pacific

Violent aftershock rocks Christchurch

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-10 09:14

WELLINGTON - A large aftershock rocked the quake-stricken New Zealand city of Christchurch early Tuesday.

The 5.3 magnitude quake hit at 3.04 am local time (15:04 GMT Monday) and was centered in Rolleston, 20 km west of Christchurch, at a depth of just over 14 km.

Residents described the quake as "violent" and "brutal", TVNZ reported.

Geological monitoring network GeoNet said the quake was the eighth biggest since the September 4, 2010 earthquake and the fourth biggest since the February 22 tremor that killed at least 181 people.

Seismologists said the size of the quake meant some homes might have received minor damage, TVNZ reported.

Police said they had no reports of injuries or damage.

It was the 25th earthquake measuring 5 or more on the Richter scale in Christchurch over the past six months.