Large aftershock in Christchurch

Terrified people hug each other for support after last week's quake. Photo / Geoff Sloan

A large aftershock was widely felt in Canterbury this evening.

According to Geonet, the quake struck at 7.34pm. It was a 4.8 magnitude aftershock at a depth of 11km and was centred within 5km of Lyttelton.

It was felt as far away as Timaru.

Herald reporter Isaac Davison was in a restaurant when the quake struck, and said it went on for about 10 seconds.

"A few people were holding each other. The lights were swinging pretty heavily."

Before the details of the quake appeared on the Geonet website, Twitter users in Christchurch were predicting the shock to be at least a magnitude 5 and saying it may have caused more damage since last week's deadly 6.3 quake.

"We heard that one coming, rumbled all the way up to Woodend, long one too," tweeted Nicola Vallance, while Cheryl Bernstein said: "Oh, that was a big one. A really big one. A growling rumble that built and built until the whole house was shuddering and banging."

Madmacnz tweeted: "Big jolt then hell of a twisting of our house - very violent very quickly."

"It was effing huge," said Belinda. "I was watching everything swaying as I stood holding onto a doorway and screaming."

- NZ Herald staff