Earthquake Rocks Already Quake-Damaged New Zealand City

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A series of earthquakes shook the quake-weary New Zealand city of Christchurch on Monday, collapsing at least one building and briefly trapping two people inside a damaged church.

Power was cut to about 10,000 homes in the city's eastern suburbs and dust billowed from the cordoned-off inner city devastated in February's major earthquake.

People fled buildings in panic when a 5.2-magnitude quake struck during lunchtime; just over an hour later, a 6.0 was recorded, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Six people have been taken to hospitals with minor injuries from falling debris, an ambulance service said.

"We are being enveloped with dust. It is very, very scary," Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told New Zealand's National Radio.
Christchurch has been shaken by thousands of aftershocks since the 6.3-magnitude quake killed 181 people on Feb. 22.

Two men who were salvaging windows from St. John's Church became trapped after one of Monday's temblors brought down the building's facade, the last wall standing after February's quake. Police said they were rescued and taken to a hospital with cuts and bruises.

Another nearby building collapsed, but no one was inside.

The mayor said more masonry fell from the badly damaged Christchurch Cathedral, sending up large clouds of dust.

Fire Service spokesman Dan Coward said they were inundated by calls about burst pipes. He added that many people were "freaked out" by the latest jolts.

People attending inquest hearings for victims of the February earthquake reportedly bolted from the Riccarton Park Function Center when Monday's quakes struck.

Others fled from buildings at Canterbury University and the Westfield Riccarton Mall, which also suffered heavy damage in February.

Canterbury law student Jennifer Jones was on the second floor of the library when the quake hit.

"It started off not too bad but then all the books started flying off the shelves. You've got 11 floors above you so everyone got out pretty quickly," she told the Stuff news website.