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A car lies under fallen rubble in Christchurch, New Zealand after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck much of New Zealand's South Island early Saturday Sept. 4, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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WELLINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand' South Island was shaken by a major earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale on Saturday.
There were no immediate reports of injures, but widespread damage and power blackouts were reported.
The quake happened at 4:35 a.m. local time (1635 GMT Friday) and was centered some 30 km northwest of South Island's largest city Christchurch. It was at a depth of 33 km, the New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences reported.
It was also felt in other parts of the South Island and in Wellington.
No tsunami warning has been issued after the temblor.
Helena Wang, a resident in Christurch, told Xinhua that the quake was strongly felt in the city. She said the quake rocked her house terribly, and books fell to the ground from the book shelf. She said electricity was out in her house and there were also aftershocks.
Some local residents were out in the streets in their pajamas, looking scared and worried.
A spokesperson with the lines company Orion said power is out in most of Christchurch because of the extensive damage there. The spokesperson said sewer lines and water pipes have ruptured, and whole substations are offline.
Related:
At least two injured in New Zealand's South Island quake
WELLINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were seriously injured after a massive earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island city of Christchurch and the wider South Island on Saturday morning, causing widespread damage and power blackouts in most of the city.
Christchurch Hospital has treated two people seriously injured by falling masonry and glass, The Press reported on Saturday. Full story
