the earth is shaking...again.

In case the USA doesn't cover this, here is the biggest and not great news of the day. I am not in this city, but I have friends that are.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5136644/Powerful-earthquakes-rock-Christchurch

The magnitude 5.5 quake struck at 1pm, 10 kilometres east of Christchurch at Taylor's Mistake beach, at a depth of 11 kilometres, and sent people scrambling for cover. It was followed at 2.20pm by a more powerful magnitude 6 quake, centred 10 kilometres southeast of the city and 9km underground.

At least ten people were taken to Christchurch Hospital with injuries due to falling building material after the 1pm quake. Other residents from the devastated city cried in the streets and hugged their children.

Police said there were no reports of injuries following the second aftershock today.

The quakes are the latest in a series of dozens of aftershocks to hit Canterbury following the devastating February 22 earthquake, where 182 people died, and a damaging magnitude 7.1 earthquake last September. The February 22 quake measured magnitude 6.3 and left 100,000 homes damaged - 10,000 beyond repair. Christchurch's CBD was left in ruins, with 900 buildings - many in what has become known as the 'red zone' - expected to be demolished.

PM: 'WE STAND BESIDE THEM'

"We stand beside them, we are committed to rebuilding the city," Key said.

Key said Christchurch people were stoic people would regroup.

Key said Mayor Bob Parker was considering whether to declare a state of local civil defence emergency but the Government did not consider today's events serious enough to declare a national state of emergency.

Parker said it was "a serious situation" despite not declaring another state of emergency with power unlikely to be restored to the 50,000 who had lost it until tomorrow. The city's water infrastructure was also damaged. "Look after yourselves big time tonight," he said.

Today's quakes would "almost certainly" be considered a new event by insurer the Earthquake Commission, Key said.

The earthquakes were another blow to Christchurch residents, who found them frightening and upsetting.

"Quite frankly I think they're all over this and they want the sense of normality to return ... my heart really goes out to them."

It could have changed the areas that can be built on but too soon to stay.

Key said to demonstrate the significance of today's quakes, the magnitude six quake this afternoon registered an eight on the Mercalli scale which measures the intensity of earth quakes. By comparison the February 22 earthquake was a nine.