A magnitude 5.8 quake has struck in the sea near Christchurch…at a depth of only 8km.
There are reports of minor injuries, and ground liquefaction, but the biggest impact is psychological.
The tremor also continues a trend where faultline activity is moving offshore…increasing fears of a possible tsunami if a shallow large quake uplifts the sea bed.
UPDATE: another massive aftershock has struck just before 15.25hrs…and at 6.0 on the richter scale it was a bigger shake according to those who felt both.
See our breaking news link for more on this developing story.