A powerful earthquake has struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch bringing down buildings and buckling roads, with unconfirmed reports of serious injuries.
The US Geological Survey says the quake was 6.3 in magnitude and struck five kilometres from the city at a shallow depth of just four kilometres.
It says the quake hit shortly before 12:50pm (local time), just five kilometres to the north-west of the city.
A New Zealand Herald reporter says the quake lasted for about a minute and was extremely violent.
The ABC’s New Zealand correspondent, Dominique Schwartz, says the quake has brought down facades and buildings, and has created flooding in main streets due to burst water mains.
All phone lines to the city on the South Island are down and Orion Energy says large parts of the city appear to be without power.
Pictures show cars that have been crushed by bricks and parts of buildings. Christchurch Cathedral has been badly damaged, with images showing parts of its roof and walls crumbled.
The hospital has also been damaged and is reported to have been evacuated.
Many people are now …
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