A third series of earthquakes struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Monday. 

The earthquake knocked out utilities and damaged homes and businesses, which forced Pastor Ram Indugula and his wife, Padma, of Avonside Church of the Nazarene to seek shelter in a motel on the other side of the city. 

Like the last earthquake in February, the area of Avonside has silt bubbling from the earth, a process known as liquefaction, but it's much worse this time, Ram Indugala said. The church property is inundated with silt and the cold temperatures add to the problems.

It's winter in New Zealand and Monday night the temperature dropped near freezing, Indugula said. Many people are without heat and need shelter.

"The small congregation is coping okay," said Neville Bartle, New Zealand District superintendent.

"We would appreciate your prayers that God would strengthen them, encourage, and comfort them at this time," Bartle added. "All of Christchurch is feeling very devastated and discouraged at this - the third major quake since September last year. Many are losing hope that life will ever get back to normal again.

Christchurch is the country's second-largest city and is home to 400,000 people. The U.S. Geological Survey considered the February 22 earthquake an aftershock of the magnitude 7.0 quake that struck outside the city September 3. 

Though smaller in magnitude, the February quake proved much deadlier than the original - 181 people were killed and it caused widespread damage in the city.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 5.2-magnitude quake struck during lunchtime Monday, and an hour later, a 6.0 hit.

Monday's quakes toppled one of the few buildings that survived the February earthquake in downtown Christchurch and sunk thousands of homes in the eastern suburbs, city officials said.

Police reported no deaths as of Tuesday, but the hospital treated several people with injuries. 

About 47,000 homes were without power Monday night.