Quake cuts city services

A STRONG earthquake hit the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch, cutting power and phone services and sending some residents running into the streets just weeks after a more powerful quake caused extensive damage.

New Zealand’s geological agency GNS Science said the magnitude five quake was centred 9km south-west of the city and just 8km below the surface.

Reports said phone and power services to some parts of the city were down.

Some residents fled into the streets as buildings shook and objects tumbled from shelves when the quake hit about 11.30am local time.

The quake was one of many aftershocks that hit the city after a magnitude-seven quake on September 4.