Strong aftershock jolts Christchurch

Christchurch remains devastated following a magnitude 6.3 quake on February 22. File photo / Sarah Ivey

Power has been fully restored to about 20,000 homes and business after a 5.3 magnitude aftershock in Christchurch tonight.

The quake was centred within 5km of Lyttelton, 12km southeast of central Christchurch, at a depth of 11km, GNS reported.

It was felt strongly in Christchurch.

A spokeswoman for energy company Orion said about 20,000 customers had lost power, mostly in the city's southern suburbs, but electricity was fully restored by 7.50pm.

Civil Defence said a power line had come down over a digger on the corner of Stanmore and Worcester streets and a water main had burst on Monkspur Rd.

Rocks had fallen in Sumner and Redcliffs and there had been reports of liquefaction and flooding in eastern suburbs, it said.

The Strategy building in Victoria Street tilted during the tremor and several nearby roads had been closed to the public.

Civil Defence also said a number of roads had been damaged and people should stay home if possible.

It advised people to check on their neighbours and be wary of falling debris.

Numerous calls have been made to the fire services. Shops reported stock shaken from shelves.

Police said they were conducting "reassurance and response patrols" in Lyttelton, Cass Bay and Port Hills.

Christchurch remains devastated following a magnitude 6.3 quake on February 22, which claimed an estimated 181 lives.

That quake followed a magnitude 7.1 quake last September 4.

- NZPA, NZ Herald staff