Scores of people were injured yesterday when the New Zealand city of Christchurch was rocked by an earthquake. The tremor – the third in just over a year – came ten months after a massive quake struck the city killing 182 people.

People ran into the streets when yesterday’s 5.8 magnitude quake caused buildings to sway shortly before lunchtime.

But he told BusinessDesk that could now be a ‘pessimistic’ prediction. He said: ‘It could be, from today, that was being conservative. Now, looking at Christchurch, that five per cent seems too light and you could be up to 10 per cent.

‘That has massive consequences for infrastructure, networking, the whole capability of the city.’

In yesterday’s quake, fire engines, ambulances and police cars raced through the city to check on damage and casualties as people were asked not to use their mobile phones to keep emergency airwaves open.

Shoppers ran from supermarkets as goods crashed from shelves. Some people received injuries as they fled to the safety of streets. More than 26,000 homes were left without power after the shaking tripped switches, cutting supplies.

The first 5.8-magnitude quake struck on Friday afternoon, local time, 16 miles north of Christchurch and 2.5 miles deep, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Minutes later, a 5.3-magnitude aftershock hit.

About an hour after that, the city was shaken by another 5.8-magnitude temblor, the USGS said, though New Zealand’s geological agency GNS Science recorded it as 6.0.

Both aftershocks were less than three miles deep and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue an alert.

The earthquake was felt as far north as Wellington and Dunedin in the south.

Actress Robyn Malcolm tweeted: ‘F**k, that was terrifying.’ Film-maker Logan McMillan said: ‘The noises that come with it…it starts with a little shake before it hits in.

‘I have friends down at the mall and they said there was stuff falling off the shelves and ceiling panels falling in. ‘Everyone is evacuating. There’s a bit of panic. They said it’s chaos down there.’

Residents said serious thought would now have to be given as to whether the entire city should be abandoned for good, claiming the risks are too high and its future too uncertain.

Evacuation: Although most of the buildings in Christchurch were evacuated cars became trapped in sinkholes after the quake

Second clean up: Daniel Marsh and Jason Myburgh clean up liquefaction from Chadbury Street in Parklands

Broken banks: Government officials survey a collapsed bank and broken water line on the banks of the Avon River in Christchurch after the quake

Experts have predicted earthquakes will continue to hit the area for the next four years.

Many residents said insuring anything in Christchurch had become a ‘nightmare’ and it was not ‘worth their while’ to live there any more.

Callers flooded radio stations to tell of their individual scares. One caller to Newstalke ZB said the quake was ‘as vicious’ as the one in February.

‘The first thing I felt was a little movement and I said “What’s this?” and I said to my wife “Get under a door frame somewhere safe”. I just dived under the bench,’ said the caller.

Reporter Jo Scott said: ‘It’s absolutely frightening. My children are literally shaking and sobbing in my arms. That’s the worst bit. But we’re tough and we have a strong house and we’ll be OK.’

But many residents said they were preparing for a follow-up quake or aftershocks which could be equally damaging.

Social media users told of their fears and how they were fed up with the quakes hitting the city.

‘We knows, after a big one, that there are weeks and months of aftershocks ahead and that’s what makes it so hard to bear,’ wrote one person.

‘Still in the car, trying to get home,’ wrote one man. ‘Police cars and ambulances rushing past.’

The desire to live in other areas was also apparent among many.

‘If only we can relocate Christchurch somewhere else,’ said one man. Seismologist Ken Gledhill said the quake was further from the city than most of the previous aftershocks, but it followed the same
pattern.

Smash:The 5.8 magnitude quake swayed buildings in the city causing shop damage but no injuries

Clean up operation: Staff at a Christchurch supermarket mop up smashed wine bottles

‘It’s likely there will be a series of aftershocks which will gradually drop off,’ he said.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, who featured strongly after the February quake with regular updates for the rest of the world, was on holiday at Lake Taupo, on the North Island when he was told about the quake.

‘I’m desperately trying to get back home – I’ll be there later today. But it’s going toe one hell of a day.’ he said.

Police said all the shopping malls had been closed and patrols were searching the streets for damage.

Frightened: Terrified residents took to the streets during the aftershocks to avoid being hit by possible falling debris

Destruction: A dog walker looks at a car trapped in a sink hole caused by liquefaction in the Christchurch suburb of Parklands following the earthquake

Rubble: An aerial of the site where the Canterbury TV building in Christchurch collapsed in February

Ruins: A large steel frame supports the front of the Christchurch Cathedral in Cathedral Square after it was severely damaged in the February quake

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