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Scientists warned on Friday of an increased probability that another powerful earthquake will hit the earthquake-stricken New Zealand city of Christchurch in the next year.
Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, is already facing a repair bill worth NZ$20 billion ($15.8 billion) after a 6.3-magnitude quake struck in February, killing 181 people and destroying much of the downtown area.
In a new report, government scientists said there was a 15 percent probability of a magnitude 6.0 to 6.4 quake in the next 12 months, up from 10 percent in September.
The chance of a 5.5-5.9 magnitude quake was put at 46 percent from 37 percent two months ago.
The announcement of increased probabilities comes only a month after the government's earthquake monitoring unit GNS Science said they were decreasing.
"Nothing has changed inside the earth to increase the risk of an earthquake, it's just that there is a change in the way the probabilities are calculated," said Kelvin Berryman, the natural hazards research manager.
He said the forecasting technique was changed to reflect a longer-term outlook now that the aftershock sequence is 13 months on from the initial 7.0 quake that rocked the city and weakened its infrastructure.
