It struck in the wee small hours, a rumbling roar and intense swaying that lasted for the best part of a minute.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says there is "significant structural damage" to his city after this morning's 7.1 quake, with some eastern suburbs facing possible evacuation.

Vodafone is advising customers in Christchurch to keep cellphone calls sort, or preferably use SMS messages.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake which struck Christchurch about 4.30am today rates among the top dozen to hit New Zealand.

Christchurch residents are recounting terrifying ordeals during this morning's 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

The Govt will spend $3.5m to upgrade tsunami warning systems across the Pacific, Murray McCully announced today.

Thousands of residents and visitors have been ordered to evacuate an island on the North Carolina coast, as Hurricane Earl swings towards mainland USA.

In New Orleans the healing has barely begun for some since Hurricane Katrina five years ago and, more recently, the great Gulf spill.

Five years on, Rupert Cornwell looks back on the hurricane and floods that shamed America

Authorities in Pakistan were battling yesterday to save a city in a flood-devastated southern province.

Several carriages of a passenger train fell into water after floods knocked out a bridge in China.

The tsunami that struck Tonga and Samoa last year was the result of a rare geological event.