The Darfield earthquake caused severe building damage in mid-Canterbury, particularly to the city of Christchurch. It revealed the existence of a hidden west-east fault under the gravels of the Canterbury Plains.
| When | Sat Sep 4 2010 4:35 AM |
| Where | 25 km south of Oxford |
| Shaking | Extreme |
| Magnitude | 7.2 |
| Depth | 11 km |
| Quality | best |
| Extreme | 182 | |
| Severe | 559 | |
| Strong | 1158 | |
| Moderate | 1498 | |
| Light | 3462 | |
| Weak | 77 | |
| Total | 6936 |
| Extreme | 182 | |
| Severe | 559 | |
| Strong | 1158 | |
| Moderate | 1498 | |
| Light | 3462 | |
| Weak | 77 | |
| Total | 6936 |