A series of tremors Monday disrupted an inquest into the deaths of 116 people killed in the CTV building during the Feb. 22 earthquake in New Zealand's second city of Christchurch.


Dust rises after a second large 6.0 earthquake in Gloucester Street, Christchurch, New Zealand, June 13, 2011. A 6-magnitude aftershock struck New Zealand South Island city Christchurch on Monday afternoon, following a powerful magnitude 5.5 quake which rocked the city earlier, the New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science said. (Xinhua Photo)
The coroner's inquest had just broken for lunch when a 5.5-magnitude shock truck at 1 p.m., and family members and media were evacuated from the venue.


A second major tremor measuring 6 on the Richter scale shook the city at 2:29 p.m..


The inquest had been hearing how 12 people inside The Clinic medical practice in the CTV building had died.


A legal representative for the families had asked Coroner Gordon Matenga for more information on why people were allowed back in the building following the Sept. 4 earthquake and Boxing Day aftershock last year.


Matenga said a lot of questions would remain unanswered until the Royal Commission of Inquiry later this year.


One victim who had worked at The Clinic had spoken of looking for a new job away from the CTV building because she was concerned about its stability, her husband told the inquest.


Maysoon Abbas was working on the fourth floor of the CTV building. 


VietNamNet/Xinhuanet