Editing Canterbury Region (section)

==== September 2010 ====
[[File:Worcester corner Manchester.jpg|thumb|Building damage in [[Worcester Street, Christchurch|Worcester Street]], corner Manchester Street, with [[ChristChurch Cathedral, Christchurch|ChristChurch Cathedral]] in the background (September 2010)]]
{{main|2010 Canterbury earthquake}}

A [[Moment magnitude scale|magnitude]] 7.1 earthquake occurred in the region on Saturday 4 September 2010, at 04:35&nbsp;am.<ref>{{citation
 |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/55956/strong-quake-hits-near-christchurch
 |title=Strong quake hits near Christchurch
 |publisher=Radio New Zealand
 |date=4 September 2010
}}</ref> The epicentre was located {{convert|40|km|mi}} west of Christchurch; {{convert|10|km|mi}} south-east of [[Darfield, New Zealand|Darfield]],<ref name="GeoNet">{{Cite web |date=4 September 2010 |title=New Zealand earthquake report – Sep&nbsp;4&nbsp;2010 at 4:35&nbsp;am (NZST) |url= http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3366146g.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100905223314/http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3366146g.html |archive-date=5 September 2010 |access-date=6 September 2010 |work=[[GeoNet (New Zealand)|GeoNet]] |publisher=[[Earthquake Commission]] and [[GNS Science]]}}</ref> and had a depth of {{convert|10|km|mi}}. The earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings and power outages, but no direct fatalities. Sewers were damaged, gas and water lines were broken, and power to up to 75% of the city was disrupted. Christchurch residents reported chimneys falling in through roofs, cracked ceilings and collapsed brick walls.<ref>{{citation
 |url         = http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Massive-7-4-quake-hits-South-Island
 |title       = Massive 7.4 quake hits South Island
 |work        = Stuff
 |location    = New Zealand
 |date        = 4 September 2010
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100906143324/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Massive-7-4-quake-hits-South-Island
 |archive-date = 6 September 2010
}}</ref>

A local [[state of emergency]] was declared at 10:16&nbsp;am on 4 September for the city, and evacuations of parts were planned to begin later in the day.<ref name="nz10671050">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/natural-disasters/news/article.cfm?c_id=68&objectid=10671050 |title=Latest News: Christchurch earthquake|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=4 September 2010|date=5 September 2010}}</ref> People inside the Christchurch city centre were evacuated, and the city's central business district remained closed until 5 September.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Christchurch to be evacuated after quake|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/christchurch-earthquake/55956/central-christchurch-to-be-evacuated-after-quake|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=4 September 2010|date=4 September 2010}}</ref> A curfew from 7&nbsp;pm on 4 September to 7&nbsp;am on 5 September was put in place.<ref name="curfew">{{Cite web |title=Weather the next threat after earthquake |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/4094986/Officers-flown-in-to-protect-Christchurch |date=4 September 2010 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |location=New Zealand |access-date=15 July 2024 }}</ref> The [[New Zealand Army]] was deployed to assist police and enforce the curfew.

There were 63 reported aftershocks in the first 48 hours, with three registering 5.2 magnitude. The total insurance costs of the event were estimated as up to $11&nbsp;billion, according to the New Zealand Treasury.<ref name="Quake Cost">{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/canterbury-earthquake/4105730/Quake-Canterbury-shaken-by-270-aftershocks|title=Canterbury shaken by 240 aftershocks |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |location=New Zealand |date=8 September 2010|access-date=8 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Multiple fatalities in New Zealand earthquake near Christchurch |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/large-quake-hits-new-zealand/story-e6freuy9-1226009964751|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |access-date=22 February 2011|date=22 February 2011}}</ref>