NZ 6.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE

UPDATE 4.23PM AEST

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has announced that the Christchurch quake death toll has increased to 65.

The devastation from the disaster is said to have rendered entire suburbs in Christchurch "unliveable" and rescue crews say that people will remain trapped in the rubble overnight.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key tonight said "we may be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day" when announcing that 65 people had lost their lives.

On top of this toll, emergency crews are expecting hundreds of casualties and hospitals across the South island have been cleared to make room for them. Makeshift hospitals are also being constructed to take care of the injured.

UPDATE 4.13PM AEST

New Zealand media are reporting that 17 fatalities have now been confirmed.

The 22nd aftershock has hit Canterbury. It was a magnitude 4.0 tremor, at a depth of 15km, 10km southeast of Christchurch, 3News NZ has reported.

UPDATE 3.35PM AEST

One person reported is dead and 30 trapped in Pyne Gould Corp building in Christchurch CBD.

More reports emerge of bodies strewn across streets.

Christchurch resident Jaydn Katene told the New Zealand Herald: "We've had friends in town call us and say there are just bodies lying around; lots of dead bodies outside shops just lying there just covered in bricks.

"When it hit we were knocked to our feet. Everything in the house fell down, nothing was left still standing. There's more damage than the first earthquake, the roads are completely torn up; sewage coming up and flooding. It's crazy."

"The elderly are all crying. The next-door neighbours around us were all bawling their eyes out, it was horrible. People can't get out of their houses," said Mr Katene.

"We've seen cars halfway sunken into the road. We've heard there's a bus which is sunken halfway into the road just around the corner.

"Buildings are half-collapsed everywhere.

"It smells horrible. The roads are packed with cars. There aren't enough police or ambulances. Houses are all collapsing. It's pretty shocking; a total warzone."

At least it's not QLD this time.

怀念一下大教堂先  虽说也在那里也经历过地震但是都是没有伤亡的

latest death toll stands at 65, but it is expected to rise.