Another shallow quake jolts Christchurch

Christchurch residents have been jolted by a shallow earthquake for the second time on Saturday.

A 3.5 magnitude tremor struck at a depth of 4km south west of Christchurch at 5.45pm.

More than 4300 reported feeling the quake on GeoNet’s website, with most describing it as light or weak.

It comes after another earthquake on Saturday at 10.20am, which was initially measured at magnitude 3.4 by GeoNet, but was also only 4km underground.

It was centred to the south west of Christchurch.

Within 15 minutes of the quake, more than 2800 people had made reports to GeoNet saying they had felt the shaking, with most describing it as light or weak, but a smattering experiencing it as moderate or strong.

Most of the reports were from people in and around Christchurch and from the towns of Rolleston and Lincoln.