2011 New Zealand Earthquake
Christchurch, New Zealand — February 22, 2011
The 2011 Christchurch earthquake killed 185 people and destroyed much of the city's central business district. Despite being smaller than the September 2010 event, its shallow depth, proximity to the city, and the prior structural damage made it far more devastating. The CTV building collapse alone killed 115 people.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M6.3
Date
Feb 22, 2011
Depth
5 km
Deaths
185
Latitude
-43.583°
Longitude
172.680°
Tsunami
No
Region
New Zealand
Tectonic Cause
Reverse fault rupture on the Porters Pass-Amberley Fault Zone, a secondary fault at very shallow depth (5 km). The extreme shallowness of the rupture produced intense ground shaking near the epicenter.
Related Earthquakes in New Zealand
Sources & Further Reading
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