Edgecumbe residents say the Canterbury Quake brings back horrific memories.

Saturday's 7.1 magnitude shake has caused an estimated $2 billion damage.

It's considered a similar size to the Edgecumbe quake in 1987.

Although it was a smaller magnitude, it was closer to the surface.

As it struck in the afternoon, most people were at work when it hit.

The house of Edgecumbe's Chief Fireman John De La Rue, was damaged by the two tremors.

He says the contents were strewn everywhere, and the house had to be relevelled and restructured.

Margaret Elliot also lost her home in the 1987 Edgecumbe quake.

She was in Matata when it hit, and says she'd probably have been killed, had she been at home.