Christchurch Earthquakes, New Zealand

Christchurch Earthquakes, New Zealand

4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011

The city of Christchurch, New Zealand, was hit by two severe earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011. Both earthquakes were generated by faults which were completely unknown. The first earthquake, centered in sparsely-populated countryside, inflicted serious damage but no life losses, whilst the second earthquake in close proximity to the city caused 181 fatalities. The damage and some collapses observed during Christchurch earthquakes can be attributed to widespread manifestation of liquefaction, to the emergence of the fault rupture on the surface, as well as to the structural characteristics of the existing building stock in the region.