Buildings collapsed and roads cracked as the massive quake, which measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, hit the area at 4.35am yesterday.
Two people were seriously hurt and scores of others needed treatment for minor injuries but amazingly no one was reported killed. Prime Minister John Key said: "The damage is incredibly frightening. The only thing you can say is that it's a miracle no one lost their life."
A State Of Emergency was declared as rescuers checked no one was trapped in rubble.
And a curfew was imposed last night after reports of looting, although officials said it was to protect people from aftershocks.
Thousands of quakes hit New Zealand every year but they rarely cause damage. The last earthquake deaths there were in 1968.
This is Neko and Teko, still shaking.
This article can also be read at: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/09/05/new-zealand-earthquake-s-trail-of-destruction-115875-22538579/
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