“No deaths or injuries have been reported among Saudis in New Zealand following the devastating earthquake,” the consul general said. There are 600 Saudi students in Christchurch and 180 in Dunedin, he said.

“Soon after the earthquake, an emergency meeting was held at the consulate to follow up on the situation of Saudi students in different parts of New Zealand by contacting them by phone and e-mail,” said Al-Johani.

He said the consulate has received instructions from the Saudi government to provide necessary services to Saudi citizens affected by the quake. “We have rented two furnished apartments to accommodate affected Saudis,” the consul general said.

The quake, which hit 30 km west of the southern city of Christchurch according to the state geological agency GNS Science, shook a wide area, with some residents saying buildings had collapsed and power was severed. No tsunami alert was issued. GNS Science initially reported the quake as magnitude 7.4, but later downgraded it after re-examining quake records. The US Geological Survey measured the quake at 7.0.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker declared a state of emergency four hours after the quake warning people that continuing aftershocks could cause masonry to fall from damaged buildings.