2016 Christchurch earthquake

2016 Valentine's Day earthquake

Map showing the epicentre of the earthquake
Date	13:13:43, 14 February 2016 (UTC+12:00)
Magnitude	5.7 ML
Depth	8 km (5 mi)
Epicenter	43°30′S 172°50′E / 43.50°S 172.83°E / -43.50; 172.83Coordinates: 43°30′S 172°50′E / 43.50°S 172.83°E / -43.50; 172.83
Type	Strike-slip
Areas affected	New Zealand
Total damage	Building collapse, power outages, rockfall, sinkhole
Max. intensity	MM VIII - destructive
Peak acceleration	0.4g
Tsunami	No

An earthquake occurred in Christchurch on 14 February 2016 at 1:13 p.m. local time (00:13 UTC) and initially recorded as 5.9 on the Richter scale, but subsequently reviewed as 5.7. Often referred to as the Valentine's Day earthquake, it was centred in the sea off New Brighton at a depth of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). It was the first large earthquake that the Christchurch area has experienced since May 2012, and it was part of the earthquake sequence that started with the 4 September 2010 Canterbury earthquake.

A number of cliffs collapsed at Scarborough (Godley Head and Whitewash Head), Richmond Hill, and Sumner (Peacock's Gallop). The containers still placed along Peacock's Gallop on Main Road stopped falling rocks from hitting passing cyclists. Two surfers were below Whitewash Head and had car-size rocks crash into the sea around them.

Westfield Riccarton, Eastgate Mall, The Palms, and Ballantynes were evacuated and closed for engineering inspection. There was confusion at Northlands Mall as Police encouraged some shopkeepers to evacuate, but the alarm was not sounded as is otherwise done when the mall is to be cleared. Some shop keepers were told by mall management staff that there would be financial penalties if they did not keep their shop open. Nearly 50 shops in the mall closed, partially due to the fact that stock had fallen out of shelves and into the aisles. On the Saturday after the earthquake, The Press in its editorial was very critical of mall management, stating that "management's response to the entire incident profoundly and completely misses the point". Shortly after the earthquakes, it was found that seven of the forty historic façades in the central city's New Regent Street were unstable. The buildings were cordoned off, and that stopped the heritage tram from running, which had a major impact on those businesses that remained open. The tram started operating again in May 2016.