The Christchurch earthquake struck the city of Christchurch, on New Zealand's South Island, at lunchtime on a working day. Its magnitude was 6.2, lower than that of the larger earthquake that had hit the Canterbury region five months earlier, but it was shallow and close to the city, so the shaking was extremely violent. A total of 185 people died, and the collapse of the Canterbury Television building and the Pyne Gould Corporation building accounted for most of the deaths. Widespread liquefaction flooded streets and houses with silt, and the damaged cathedral in the city center became a symbol of the disaster. Large parts of the central city had to be demolished, and rebuilding took many years.
Before and after
- from 25 January 2011 to 11 February 20112011 Egyptian revolution
- from 27 January 2011 to 27 February 20122011 Yemeni revolution
- from 15 February 2011 to 23 October 2011Libyan Civil War
- 15 February 2011War in the Sahel
- 22 February 2011February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
- 24 February 2011Launch of STS-133
- 11 March 2011Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
- 11 March 20112011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
- from 15 March 2011 to 8 December 2024Syrian Civil War
More in Earth & climate
- 1 January 1954Establishment of Niokolo-Koba National Park
- 22 January 1954Establishment of Teide National Park
- 1971Establishment of Kevladev National Park
- 1973Establishment of Chitwan National Park
- 1984Establishment of Sundarbans National Park
- 26 August 20262026 Nepal–Tibet floods
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 21st century.