Christchurch was rocked by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake as a series of tremors shook the area

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Christchurch was hit this morning by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, preceded by a foreboding tremor, with more than 7,000 people reporting the twin tremors.

The moderate earthquake hit at 7.37 am, and it is the latest in a series of earthquakes that shook the region in the past 15 hours.

GeoNet says the epicenter was 10 kilometers northeast of the city at a depth of 8 kilometers.

It is the fifth earthquake in less than 15 hours, three of which have a magnitude of at least 4.0.

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M4.3 and M3.6 earthquake caused moderate shaking in Christchurch this morning. We have received over 7,000 iPad reports. There was also a slight shaking in the area yesterday evening, M4.0 in the same place overnight 2:21am More details: https://t.co/rsYvsMsCia pic.twitter.com/lRZcx90XId

— GeoNet (@geonet) April 20, 2023

GeoNet said the quake – which was initially measured at a magnitude of 4.3 but an hour later was upgraded to a magnitude of 4.4 – a magnitude 3.6 quake caused moderate shaking in Christchurch this morning.

There was also a previous tremor yesterday evening and a magnitude 4 quake in the same place overnight at 2.21am.

The 4.2 is swaying a bit here in Christchurch just now #eqnz Windows creak and a very real sense of motion.

— Mathstew (@mathstew) April 20, 2023

The latest earthquake is the most powerful earthquake of the latest batch.

More than 7,000 people reported feeling shaking, GeoNet said, with most measuring the tremor as mild to moderate.

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GeoNet said the quake was likely to be felt across the Canterbury region as far as Arthur’s Pass and Hanmer Springs.

Three earthquakes today #chch first around 2am two more now off the coast of Brighton. 4 sec. geonet pic.twitter.com/IvSi7Y1YbD

– Frances Adank (@FrancesAdank1) April 20, 2023

Canterbury residents reported feeling it as far north as North Kaiapoi and as far south as Ashburton, with one resident reporting feeling a strong jolt.

Those living in the eastern Christchurch suburb of Woolston reported feeling the double quake more intensely than other parts of the city.

“The second this morning definitely felt stronger than the one here in Woolston,” Sarah-Lee Larmer said on GeoNet’s Facebook page.

“I’m in Woolston too. Everyone in that area seemed to have felt it was much worse than in other parts of the city,” said Shem Brokenshire.

Other residents reported being awakened by the twin earthquakes, hoping that this would be the end of the gathering.

“Enough already… Stop!” Posted by Syliva Oliver.

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