No Maltese people were reported injured during an earthquake that hit the city of Christchurch, less than four months after a massive earthquake had hit the New Zealand city and killed 181 people.

Despite widespread damage, there were no initial reports of fatalities from the latest two large aftershocks, on Monday afternoon.

However, more than 10 people were reported to be injured, but none was believed to be critical. The Maltese Foreign Affairs Ministry did not receive any reports of Maltese presumed injured.

The Guardian reported that many of the injuries occurred within the central city cordon, where major building works have been under way since the quake of 22 February, which destroyed much of the central business district. Workers had been evacuated from the “red zone” following the first aftershock, avoiding further casualties, said the Christchurch mayor, Bob Parker.

The first of the aftershocks measured 5.5 on the Richter Scale and struck at 1pm New Zealand time, at a depth of 11km, 10km to the east of the city. The second, a larger shock, was at 2.20pm, measured six and was centred 10km south-east of the city at a depth of 9km. A series of smaller shocks were felt over a two-hour period.