Moderate earthquake rattles Christchurch

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake has struck near Reefton. Photo / Supplied

Close to 8000 residents of Christchurch have reported feeling a moderate earthquake this morning, which was a magnitude 3.7 jolt.

The quake registered at a depth of 11km and had its epicentre 5km east of the city centre, near Linwood Ave at 12.36am.

A M3.7 earthquake with moderate shaking has occurred in Christchurch. We've received more than 7000 felt reports from across Canterbury. For more detail, see https://t.co/xTks8tyUDy pic.twitter.com/e8UzKDK610

— GeoNet (@geonet) December 22, 2020

Of almost 7880 'felt it' reports on the GeoNet website, most describe the shaking as weak to moderate; however, four people in Christchurch and three in the North Island describe it as extreme.

One woman remarked that it felt a lot stronger than a 3.7 shake.

Fire and Emergency says no calls have been received in relation to the jolt.

Meanwhile, a magnitude 4.2 earthquake has been felt by a number of people across the West Coast this morning.

According to GeoNet, the quake struck at 6.32am centred near Reefton at a depth of 5km.

Most of the 'felt it' reports on the website describe the shaking as weak to moderate; however, three people said it was 'strong'.

A post on the West Coast Emergency Management Facebook page said: "It's a good reminder to always be prepared for the unexpected and if you are near the coastline following an earthquake, remember - Long, Strong, Get Gone."