Significant earthquakes of 2011

June 13, 2011 Earthquake: Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

June 13, 2011 · M6 · 1 death · $3 billion · 100 houses destroyed

A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand on June 13, 2011 at 02:20:49 UTC, 6 km below the surface. It killed 1 person.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date
June 13, 2011
Time
02:20:49 UTC
Place
Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand
Magnitude
6 (Mw)
Focal depth
6 km (4 mi)
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
43.564° S, 172.743° E

The toll

Deaths
1
Injuries
45
Damage
$3 billion
Houses destroyed
100

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

2011, June 13. Forty-five people injured, 100 previously- damaged buildings destroyed, many roads damaged, one bridge destroyed, utilities disrupted, widespread liquefaction and landslides observed (VII) in the Christchurch area. Seaport damaged at Lyttelton. Total damage in Canterbury estimated at 3 to 5 billion U.S. dollars. Felt (IV) at Westport and (III) at Dunedin. Felt in much of Canterbury and as far as Invercargill and Wellington. (reference #1053)

2011, June 13. One killed, 345 affected, $3000 million damage. (reference #1250)

One killed, 45 fatalities, $3000 million economic loss. (reference #13727)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 2011The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2011Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 9858.