New Zealand Hit By EarthQuake, Church Destroyed

New Zealand's second-largest city Christchurch was rocked Tuesday by an earthquake that destroyed part of its cathedral and caused possible fatalities, closing the airport and sending office workers running from damaged buildings.

The initial 6.3 magnitude quake hit 10 kilometers south-east of the city at 2351GMT according to the Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management. The first quake was followed by aftershocks, including one measured at 5.6 magnitude.

Sky News television footage from the scene of the earthquake showed the collapsed spire of Christchurch Cathedral, a major landmark in the city, cracked roads and a number of badly damaged buildings. Sky also reported the evacuation of the city's airport and hospitals following the quakes.

Police said that multiple fatalities have been reported in several parts of the city including two buses being crushed by falling masonry.

"Other reports include multiple building collapses, fires in buildings in the central and persons reported trapped in buildings. All available police staff are assisting with evacuations and emergency responses," said the police in a statement.

The earthquake comes nearly six months after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the area in early September. Matthew Stevens, a geologist with GNS Science, said the earthquake was occurring in the same fault line as September's shock.

"This is technically an aftershock because it only happened because of the first earthquake," said Stevens.