A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has struck near Acapulco in Mexico. The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck 52km northest of Ometepec and 183km east of Acapulco at a depth of 10kms.

Rangiora, 25km from Christchurch, escaped unscathed from the Christchurch earthquakes but safety checks have now shut down some of its most important businesses.

For Takayuki Sato, who lost his wife, mother, best friend, aunt and uncle in last year's Japan disaster, life goes on.