?Significant damage? reported after New Zealand quake - Sep 2010
Water, power out across city of 350,000; no tsunami expected
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The national government said the earthquake was ?a big one? and that it would decide soon whether to activate its National Crisis Center. Christchurch authorities reported ?substantial infrastructure damage? to utilities, particularly sewer and water facilities.
No casualties were immediately reported, but some residents posted Twitter alerts reporting damage and large aftershocks. Roads around the seaside suburbs of New Brighton and Sumner were choked with cars as worried residents tried to flee the city.
?It is very important that you do not panic,? a Radio New Zealand announcer told residents, urging them to check immediately on elderly relatives and neighbors. Story: ?Significant damage? reported after New Zealand quake.
The Press newspaper of Christchurch reported that many residents fled into the streets in their pajamas. ?Oh my God,? said one of them, Colleen Simpson. ?There is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me.?
Kevin O?Hanlon, another Christchurch resident, said he had ?never felt anything like it.?
?Just unbelievable. I was awake to go to work and then just heard this massive noise and, boom, it was like the house got hit. It just started shaking,? he told the paper.
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