4.6 magnitude quake ‘accelerated’ shakes Christchurch

A shallow earthquake that struck Christchurch this morning has been upgraded to a stronger magnitude of 4.6.

Geonet says the moderate shaking struck 20 kilometers southwest of the garden city at 7.26 a.m.

It was initially recorded as a 4.5 earthquake, but was revised up to 4.6 on revision.

It was measured at a depth of 9 km.

About 7,500 people reported feeling the earthquake and more than 4,100 said it was a mild tremor.

Geonet said the earthquake was felt throughout Canterbury.

“It was a good shake for Canterbury this morning,” he posted.

“It was felt throughout Canterbury and we have received over 7,400 felt reports.”

People living in the region described it as an “almighty jolt” and an undesirable start to the day that set the pulse racing.

Others said it was scary and appeared to be stronger than the recorded magnitude 4.5.

“Right down the road from us here in Rolleston. Felt bigger than that. Heart raced early in the morning,” Rachel Briggs posted on Facebook.

Haley Cook said she felt fresh out of Rakaia.

“It was just an almighty jolt,” he posted.

Lesley Murdoch was in Christchurch at the NZME building when the earthquake struck.

She said they got a little warning and could hear something coming before it hit.

“Wow, when it hit it was a bit shocking and the monitors went off, they really shook, we had to hold them. What a start for a Friday morning, not good.”

Jordy Macdonald, a worker at the Rolleston cafeteria, said he knew it was big when he saw a ladder move.

She said that now all the customers who had come had said that the earthquake was big.

“I’m from Wellington and it’s the first I’ve felt since I moved here.”