Why did the Christchurch earthquake (2011)in New Zealand cause much more damage than the larger Canterbury earthquake (2010)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Christchurch earthquake was closer to a large city with buildings that had already been damaged by the earlier Canterbury earthquake. This made the buildings more vulnerable and prone to collapse. The Christchurch earthquake was not larger in magnitude than the Canterbury earthquake, but it was shallower and closer to the city, leading to more damage. The option C about a large landslide from the Southern Alps mountain range burying the capital city is incorrect as Christchurch is not the capital city of New Zealand.

Why Did the Christchurch Earthquake (2011)in New Zealand Cause Much