Earthquake Report by USGS
Magnitude 7.0 - South Island Of New Zealand 2010 September 03 16:35:46 UTC
USGS provided following detail info about the South Island of New Zealand Magnitude 7.0
New Zealand Magnitude 7.0
On
September 3rd, 2010,
According to the USGS, The September 3, 2010 South Island, New Zealand earthquake occurred as a
result of strike-slip faulting within the crust of the Pacific plate, near the
eastern foothills of the Southern Alps at the western edge of the Canterbury
Plains.
The earthquake struck approximately 50 km to the west-northwest of
Christchurch, the largest population center in the region, and about 80-90 km to
the south and east of the current expression of the Australia:Pacific plate
boundary through the island (the Alpine and Hope Faults). The earthquake, though
removed from the plate boundary itself, likely reflects right-lateral motion on
one of a number of regional faults related to the overall relative motion of
these plates and may be related to the overall southern propagation of the
Marlborough fault system in recent geologic time.
Today's earthquake occurred approximately 50 km to the southeast of a M7.1,
surface-rupturing event in Authur's Pass, on March 9th, 1929, which caused 17
fatalities. More recently, two earthquakes of M6.7 and M5.9 occurred in June
1994 approximately 40 km to the northwest of today's event, but did not cause
any known fatalities or significant damage.
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Even if the earthquake was widespread damage, but
there were just two reports of serious injuries.
The quake, which hit 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of the southern city of
Christchurch according to the state geological agency GNS Science, shook a wide
area, with some residents saying buildings had collapsed and power was severed.
No tsunami alert was issued.
GNS Science initially reported the quake as magnitude 7.4, but later
downgraded it after re-examining quake records. The U.S. Geological Survey, in
America, measured the quake at 7.0.
Yahoo News shows that the Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker declared a state of emergency four hours after
the quake rocked the region, warning people that continuing aftershocks could
cause masonry to fall from damaged buildings.
The emergency meant parts of the city would be closed off and some buildings
closed as unsafe, he said.
Minister of Civil Defense John Carter said a state of civil emergency was
declared as the quake was "a significant disaster," and army troops were on
standby to assist.
Parker said the "sharp, vicious earthquake has caused significant damage in
parts of the city ... with walls collapsed that have fallen into the
streets."
Chimneys and walls had fallen from older buildings, with roads blocked,
traffic lights out and power, gas and water supplies disrupted, he said.
aal for widespread
damage.
"I think we are going to see substantial damage and casualties,"
he said.
The following CNN news and Sky News show more detail about the New Zealand Earthquake 7.0.
There are so many earthquake in New Zealand which the USGS report shows that 14,000/year, 150/year felt by people, less than 10 cause damage. The highest earthquake magnitude was in January 23 1855, Wairarapa which was 8.2 , fatalities were est. 5 to 9 however, in Fedbruary 3, 1931, Hawke's Bay earthquake Magnitude 7.8 had most fatalities which numbers were 256, although the report shows that there are no fatalities for this earthquake with earthquake magnitude 7.0. It shows that New Zealand is following the earthquake proof / building code and would make the safty rules have applied for the safe environment.
The following web addresses to provide information and handle
donations for victims throughout the region and for many other
reasons. You may choose one of these organizations to support
catch4all.com,
Sandra Englund, September 3rd, 2010
