9,289 aftershocks and counting since Sept. 2010

[Fluffy Lothario]

Christchurch has now had 36 earthquakes over 5.0 in 15 months, four of them today (so far). 9,289 over 2.0.

The aftershock count went up by five in the time it took me to make this thread.

Would you still be there?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16312041

New Zealand's Christchurch rocked by earthquakes

Two strong earthquakes have rocked the New Zealand city of Christchurch, closing the airport and sending residents rushing from buildings.

The first 5.8 quake struck at 1358 local time (0058 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. A second of similar magnitude hit 80 minutes later.

One person was hurt but there were no reports of large-scale damage.

It comes 10 months after swathes of the city were destroyed by another quake.

The first earthquake struck 26km (15 miles) north-east of the city at a depth of 4.7km. The second was in almost exactly the same place, the USGS said.

Electricity and telecommunications services have been disrupted in some areas.

A shopping centre has also been evacuated and residents were reported to be standing outside buildings.

The airport was closed but an official told local media it was expected to reopen later in the day after checks.

Witnesses told local media shoppers ran from buildings as goods fell off shelves.

Resident Keith Tannock: "It was a violent rocking sensation - trees were waving backwards and forwards"
Police are checking the city for damage and Prime Minister John Key is being updated on developments, his spokesman said.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said events had left people shaken.

"I haven't heard any more significant problems at the moment," local media quoted him as saying after the first quake.

"Inevitably it would have caused damage to structures, we hope it hasn't unsettled any rock falls, and we just have to hope the liquefaction issues don't return."

Liquefaction is the weakening of the soil due to the rising of silt and water sparked by an earthquake.

Local media said there were reports of liquefaction in the suburb of Parklands.

A total of 181 people were killed when the last earthquake struck in February. It caused up to NZ$20bn ($15.5bn, £9.9bn) in economic losses

[orcus116]

Aren't 2.0s and similar happening all the time all over the world anyways? The 36 >5.0 is a bit disturbing but since seismic activity is going on everywhere all the time that 9,000 number is misleading.

[rumborak]

One thing I've never completely understood about earthquakes is, how can they localize the epicenter so clearly? I mean, this is humongous tectonic plates sliding over each other, how can a slip be so local?

rumborak

[Fiery Winds]

One thing I've never completely understood about earthquakes is, how can they localize the epicenter so clearly? I mean, this is humongous tectonic plates sliding over each other, how can a slip be so local?

rumborak

AFAIK, the epicenter is where the slip originates.  That spot would contain the most stress, so the force is felt more severely at that point and rolls off the further you go, but it's not necessarily a consistent drop off.  There were most likely other points along the fault with more stress built up than others.

[Fluffy Lothario]

Aren't 2.0s and similar happening all the time all over the world anyways? The 36 >5.0 is a bit disturbing but since seismic activity is going on everywhere all the time that 9,000 number is misleading.

Along faultlines, at least, yeah, a 2.0 is fairly regular, maybe not in those sort of numbers in such a small area though.

I don't know at what point an earthquake becomes a really good shake that is easily felt, but:

9,295 over 2.0 (another 6)
2,741 over 3.0
349 over 4.0
36 over 5.0

[bosk1]

I'm sorry, but...

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said events had left people shaken.

[Zydar]

I'm sorry, but...

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said events had left people shaken.