Christchurch - Earthquake

[Minx]

Christchurch was hit with an earthquake this morning, parts of the central city area are being evacuated

It struck in the wee small hours, a rumbling roar and intense swaying that lasted for the best part of a minute.

Christchurch was a city paralysed today after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the city at 4.35am.

Historic buildings came crashing down, power was severed and minor injuries were reported.

The quake was centred 30km west of Christchurch and 33km underground.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671075

There have been about 50 aftershocks

[skypilot]

Emailed my (1/2) cousin who lives in Christchurch this morning to check that she was okay. All was well with her and her husband, although they did lose power for a time as well as water. Things did fall off shelves and out of cupboards and there could be a little subsidence around where they live.
They had to get dressed by torchlight and, ironically, the Tshirt that her husband put under his shirt had the words "Does the Earth Move For You"  and "Seismic Isolation" on the back.

Once again though it shows that bad events bring out the baddies agai with looting.

[bambu]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/earthquake-rocks-christchurch-in-new-zealand/story-e6freuy9-1225914091903


People stand outside a building damaged by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in central Christchurch in New Zealand this morning. Picture: AP Source: AP


A STRONG earthquake has caused widespread damage and power cuts in New Zealand's second-largest city.

Shaken residents told how they cowered under doorways as the earth moved violently for what seemed as long as a minute.

GALLERY: PICTURES FROM THE SCENE

The quake's magnitude was revised downwards from an initial estimate of 7.4 to 7.0 by the US Geological Survey.

>>>>> >>>>>

Rang my friend, everyone ok, shaken up a bit but ok.

Now a plane crash as well.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nine-dead-in-nz-plane-crash/story-e6freuy9-1225914159511

AN Australian tourist is among nine people to have died in a light plane crash near a popular tourist spot in New Zealand's Southern Alps, police said today.

The plane, belonging to a skydiving company, caught fire after takeoff from an airstrip at Fox Glacier. in the South Island, said Ian Henderson, a spokesman for local ambulance services.

[bambu]

The bad people lurk in the shadows, waiting to loot your home at the first opportunity.

_____________________________________________________________________________


Don't call em "The Shaky Isles" for nothing!

[tilly]

They had to get dressed by torchlight and, ironically, the Tshirt that her husband put under his shirt had the words "Does the Earth Move For You"  and "Seismic Isolation" on the back.

 

[Minx]

All my Christchurch connections are now acounted for...thankfully they live away from the epicentre and worst damage...everyone is in shock...worst damage seems to have been to one friends library, hundreds of books now to be re-stocked...I'm pleased that's all that happened to them

There was another humdinger of an aftershock this evening, last tansTasman chat on Skype was an hour or so ago...I don't think too manywillsleepwell tonight...a fair bit of fear around the place

One of the heaviest and most unnerving aftershocks hit about 5pm today, just when things seemed to have gone quiet. As night closes in, and people head to their beds, many residents will have a nagging fear that they may have to relive the experience, or face something even worse.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671105

[bambu]

They had to get dressed by torchlight and, ironically, the Tshirt that her husband put under his shirt had the words "Does the Earth Move For You"  and "Seismic Isolation" on the back.

 

LOL

[Minx]

OK...the Salvo's have launched an Appeal

Might be worth checking around tomorrowto see if any help from Oz is needed...

The Salvation Army has launched an appeal to help feed and support those affected by today's 7.1 magnitude quake centred near Christchurch.

"People will be in shock, some have lost possessions and housing, and many will need food and comfort," Salvation Army national fundraising coordinator Major Robbie Ross said.

The Salvation Army fed about 1000 people at two Christchurch locations early this morning, he said.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671102

[skypilot]

OK...the Salvo's have launched an Appeal

Might be worth checking around tomorrowto see if any help from Oz is needed...

The Salvation Army has launched an appeal to help feed and support those affected by today's 7.1 magnitude quake centred near Christchurch.

"People will be in shock, some have lost possessions and housing, and many will need food and comfort," Salvation Army national fundraising coordinator Major Robbie Ross said.

The Salvation Army fed about 1000 people at two Christchurch locations early this morning, he said.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671102

Good to see the Salvos are the coal face once again.

[Patricia]

Have to agree about the Salvos

[Topcatoz]

Such a shame to see Christchurch damaged. I hope many of its bueatiful older buildings haven't been damaged too much.

The damage evaluation and cleanup operation started very quickly it seems?

I'm sure Australians will respond in whatever way we can if asked to do so.

TC

[bambu]

Apparently Christchurch is built on some fault line, and also on 'sand' / 'bad quality land' for want of a better description.
...whereas Wellington is not on a fault line and is built on rock.

Little bambu used to sing at church Sunday School:


The Wise Man Built His House


The wise man built his house upon the rock

The wise man built his house upon the rock

The wise man built his house upon the rock

And the rain came tumbling down




Oh, the rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

And the wise man's house stood firm.




The foolish man built his house upon the sand

The foolish man built his house upon the sand

The foolish man built his house upon the sand

And the rain came tumbling down




Oh, the rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

And the foolish man's house went "splat!" [clap hands once]

[Chris]

And the foolish man's house went "splat!" [clap hands once]

Maybe 'foolish man' had to build on sand because the 'wise' man also had the buying power to pay premium prices leaving the foolish man with nowhere else to live?