A magnitude 6.0 earthquake centered near Castle Hill caused soil liquefaction locally and minor structural damage across Canterbury, including to Christchurch Cathedral.
Key Facts
- Date
- 5 December 1881
- Estimated magnitude
- 6.0 Mw
- Depth
- 12 km
- Duration
- 20–40 seconds
- Distance from Christchurch
- ~80 km from epicentre
- Epicentre
- Torlesse Range, ~20 km from Cass
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Seismic activity along faults associated with the Torlesse Range in the Canterbury foothills of New Zealand's South Island produced a sudden rupture at approximately 12 km depth. The region lies within a tectonically active zone shaped by the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates.
At approximately 7:35 am on 5 December 1881, an earthquake estimated at magnitude 6.0 struck near Castle Hill in the Torlesse Range area. The shaking lasted between 20 and 40 seconds, beginning with a sharp jolt, and was felt across much of the South Island, with reports reaching as far south as Dunedin.
Locally, the earthquake caused soil liquefaction. In Christchurch, around 80 km from the epicentre, brick buildings sustained minor damage, including portions of the Christ Church Cathedral spire. In Lyttelton, the Timeball Station clock stopped at 7:36 am, corroborating the reported timing of the event.