China Daily

4 am local time a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred, causing a number of houses collapsed, power outage, two seriously injured. U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the earthquake did not trigger massive tsunami risk, but warned that this level of earthquake could trigger a regional tsunami.

in the early morning 7.1 earthquake

U.S. Geological Survey Web site said the quake occurred in the New Zealand local time at 4:35 on the 4th (Beijing time at 0:35 on the 4th). Christchurch City, the epicenter located 40 kilometers west of Duffield, the source 10 kilometers below the surface.

the beginning of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey will set the Richter magnitude of 7.4, then gradually fell to magnitude 7.2 and 7.1.

by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences say, the epicenter is located 33 kilometers west of Christchurch, focal depth 33 km, magnitude 7.4 Richter.

addition to Christchurch, the South Island and other parts of the capital Wellington in the North Island are also clearly felt and aftershocks.

Royal New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences website said that within 3 hours after the earthquake, occurred near the epicenter of the region 5 times more than magnitude 4.0 aftershock.

U.S. Geological Survey said in New Zealand 4:53 local time (GMT 0:53) detected a strong aftershock with a magnitude of 5.7 Richter.

earthquake injury sustained 40 seconds, the two

Radio New Zealand reported strong earthquake lasted 40 seconds.

local police said the windows of some houses damaged, chimneys dumping, received a report of water supply disruptions.

saying by CNN, the earthquake has caused two serious injuries. One of the men over 50 years old, were injured by fallen chimney is still in ICU; another man was seriously injured shattered glass bound together. There is no overseas Chinese students were injured or reported.

Christchurch Mayor then declared the city a state of emergency.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported that police sealed off the downtown business district, there were reports of some houses collapsed and blocked the road there. In addition, the Christchurch International Airport and local railway transportation network also temporarily shut down pending the investigation report losses.

grams city center curfew

Christchurch City, now a state of emergency, the city center from 4 to 7 pm the night as early as 7 am to 5 curfew. Kaiapoi town near the city will also implement a curfew.

4 New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said in the earthquake area, which is New Zealand since 1968 the most serious natural disasters, the Government will help people in disaster areas, the army on standby, if necessary assist the police in maintaining order. Earthquake damage assessment will be released in a few days, the loss was estimated to reach several billion Singapore dollars.

present, Christchurch City, the airport's flight has been restored. To the local time at 17:00 on the on the 4th, Christchurch City, the vast majority of the electricity supply has been restored, but the water supply in many areas still not be guaranteed.

Christchurch City has opened for the affected people in two shelters. City proposed state of emergency until noon on the 6th.

will not lead to large-scale tsunami

U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the earthquake did not trigger massive tsunami risk.

"based on past earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, "there is no large-scale destructive tsunami threat."

However, the agency cautioned that this strength of an earthquake may trigger a regional tsunami.

"this level of earthquake could trigger a regional tsunami near the epicenter of a few hundred kilometers of the coast of damage," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, "the relevant agencies within the region should be noted that possible, take appropriate measures. "

New Zealand is earthquake-prone countries, a year to about 14 000 times to monitor earthquakes. TEHRAN,

>> about

housing residents out of their pajamas

Christchurch residents to the media about the earthquake situation occurs.

resident Colleen Simpson told The Associated Press, after the earthquake, many frightened residents out of housing pajamas. Some houses collapsed, power failure, mobile phone networks.

"My God, I watched the collapse of some stores." Simpson said.

another resident told AFP Kevin O'Hanlon, felt very strongly.

"I wake up, is going to work, I heard a lot of noise, then that 'bang' bang, like a house knocked on the same," O'Hanlon said, "house starts to shake I never had such experience, too unbelievable. "

AP

>> Analysis

why the zero-death New Zealand earthquake

New Zealand's South Island on the 4th in the early morning earthquake magnitude 7.1 earthquake caused two serious damage to some buildings and roads, but so far no news of the death spread.

New Zealand Civil Defence Minister John Carter on that day in the capital Wellington and the relevant departments and experts, told reporters after the meeting, there were no death "is so lucky!" This "lucky" is not by accident. A result, the New Zealand population of just 4.37 million, living in scattered areas of population density is not the epicenter. Secondly, New Zealand should have a set of seismic well-established practice, is worth learning from.

New Zealand in the Pacific volcanic seismic belt, is earthquake-prone countries. The history of New Zealand Zengyin earthquake seriously affected, and in 1931 took place in the North Island Napier's magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred in 1942 and Wellington regions magnitude 7.2 earthquake caused heavy casualties, respectively. Based on seismic reflection, seismic disaster mitigation in the New Zealand trial and error, has formed a useful experience and practices.

isolation technology world leader

Isolation Technology New Zealand lead the world. Researchers as early as the late 60s in the 20th century the early 70s had specially made rubber pad for base isolation. Currently, New Zealand in a number of important buildings and bridges are used structural damping device isolation. For example: Parliament Building, the Cabinet office and the Ministry of leaded rubber pads are used to separate the building body and foundation beams. Earthquake occurs, the isolation device can effectively reduce earthquake damage.

Building Research Association of New Zealand is the agency specializes in seismic construction, designed a large glass of light wood frame construction does not cost more than the residents can be widely accepted, and this architecture is superior seismic performance in 1987 magnitude 6.7 earthquake in the South Island have been fully proven. Then, in the New Zealand Government's vigorous advocacy, light wood frame construction methods to be full extension, the current New Zealand and the multi-storey low-rise residential buildings mainly in this way. Proved, by his own light wooden light weight, high strength properties, showing good seismic performance, the largest earthquake Fa Sheng Cheng Dude O'clock to avoid Sheng Ming and Cai Chan suffered heavy losses.

building legislation to make the quality

the New Zealand Government to strengthen legislation in housing construction, strict quality control. New Zealand, "Construction Law" and architectural specifications for investors, designers and design have made specific provisions, architects and designers can be supervised. Facts for the review, "Construction Law" Guiding investor who entrusts designers drawing design Hou, Yao sent Youguanzhuanye sector audit, Jianzhu Wu Chuxianwenti to pursue architecture, designers, the Government to review staff responsibilities in order to promote Xiangguan personnel to ensure safety.

attention to disaster prevention and mitigation education

government attaches great importance to the citizens of disaster prevention, mitigation education. Over the years, New Zealand Ministry of National Defence will publish specific disaster prevention publicity materials, which include identification of hazards, prevention, and how self-help, mutual help, etc., all citizens of a staff. After long-term dissemination, New Zealand, most ordinary people after the earthquake, how to respond clearly.

New Zealand Government attaches importance to the work of disaster prevention, disaster prevention to be effective. The Government of the integrated management of natural disasters, specifically set up a government civil defense department, from the central government to regional, local governments set up disaster prevention and mitigation agencies.

AP reporter Liu Jieqiu Huang Xingwei