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View Full Version : Another terrible earthquake hits New Zealand:



handy
February 22nd, 2011, 11:29 PM
This time Christchurch has been hit more severely by lower intensity earthquake. Many people have died & the number of dead & injured will rise. Last I read it is expected to be between 200 -> 400 people dead.

I feel so sorry for the people there.

Many are safe but homeless. The entire infrastructure of plumbing, sewerage, power, hospitals, medical centres, transport, it all literally falls in a heap.

Extremely tough on everyone involved. People don't know whether they have lost a family member or friend as communications are kaput.

NZ is apparently overdue for a monster earthquake. I think if I were living around the Christchurch area in particular I would be seriously thinking of moving to Australia, as this kind of catastrophic devastation twice in 6 months is just too hard to live with.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4688231/Deaths-confirmed-in-Christchurch-quake

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10707996

http://tvnz.co.nz/

Google have launched a person finder:

http://christchurch-2011.person-finder.appspot.com/

Dobbie03
February 22nd, 2011, 11:45 PM
Yes, its really hard to watch this on TV. I am thankful that none of my family were injured. Its hard to believe this is happening in my own country, its all very surreal.

cariboo
February 22nd, 2011, 11:50 PM
Our own KiwiNZ is taking part in the rescue effort, after a vast improvement in his health.

Lightstar
February 23rd, 2011, 12:29 AM
Woooooooooooo go KiwiNZ

I feel sorry for all those who lost someone =\
There's alot of bad stuff happening lately..

handy
February 23rd, 2011, 01:22 AM
Our own KiwiNZ is taking part in the rescue effort, after a vast improvement in his health.

At least there is some good news. I was quite concerned about Mike.

Thanks for passing that on cariboo.

sideaway
February 23rd, 2011, 04:07 AM
I was in the quake, thankfully our house is ok and I have been roofing all day from early hours... get home and I can't even have a shower.

I feel very sorry for the people who've lost lives, family and friends.

DougieFresh4U
February 23rd, 2011, 04:14 AM
This (http://tvnz.co.nz//close-up/geologists-drill-answers-4008706/video?vid=4008735) was done on 1/27/2011, guess it came sooner than expected? My cousin is on the ship off the coast as a geologist working on the drilling.

sports fan Matt
February 23rd, 2011, 05:58 AM
Dobbie, how far are you from Christchurch?

Khakilang
February 23rd, 2011, 09:50 AM
My heart goes to those who had lost their families and friends. Go KiwiNZ! Also take care of yourself.

handy
February 24th, 2011, 02:42 AM
The following came in on another forum I use this morning it was posted by SlotsNZ:

Posted Today, 06:11 AM

Hi guys, hope this isn't getting a "bit old" for you. The expressions of support have been appreciated.

Have to say, Oz government has been marvelous.
That woman boss you have was the first foreign head of state to ever address our own parliament - just a few days ago, and she talked a lot about the unique "mateship" we share. It actually came across as genuine, she won the cynics over somewhat.
- Of course we all had no idea it was about to be tested for real.

But we have 300 of your police on the ground here to bolster numbers and give our own some time to sleep, plus 1 search and rescue team of 48, and a medical team. There was also a medical conference in ChCh at the time of the earthquake, with 450 ozzie medical professionals in attendance, and many of them just wandered a few blocks from their conference location and started rolling up sleeves to help on the front line. a 2nd search and rescue team is on the way over here now.
I think they are sending over other specialist and military equipment as required. Pretty much open palm for anything we have asked for.

Apart from that the NZ Government has accepted offers from USA, Singapore, Japan, United Kingdom, and Taiwan who have all sent rescue teams poste haste, and those have now all arrived "on the ground" by this morning.

As at now they haven't really got beyond the central CBD area in the S&R. That will change today. They're starting to talk numbers like 300 plus dead now, but the official toll remains at 71. They think about 100 were in one building that went completely to ground level, and that included 30 foreign students from Japan and Philippines.

Having 360,000 people with no sewerage, andno reticulated fresh water supply, and 200,000 of them also with no power, all in an enclosed urban environment is a big challenge. Our big dairy company called Fonterra, now has 74 milk tankers delivering fresh water to sites around the city on a shuttle basis for people to bring own containers and fill up.

Some supermarkets now open, some gas stations open.

4leite
February 24th, 2011, 11:13 AM
Big ups to KiwiNZ and the other rescue crews - I was/am there, the feeling you get pulling people out almost counters the terrible loss we've all suffered. I'm lucky to have power and water, have a few friends with me now who're newly homeless. International response has been massive.

Kia Kaha Chch.

MisterGaribaldi
February 26th, 2011, 06:23 AM
We were discussing this on another forum I'm on, and (silly me) I don't know why it never occurred to me to say anything here.

Anyhow, I am glad to hear KiwiNZ is able to help out, and that (so far, God willing) those others of you who are there are safe.

I know there are many dead and many more missing, and so my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected or impacted by this tragedy.

BTW, isn't lisati from down thataway too?

Be safe, be strong, and never give up.

lisati
February 26th, 2011, 06:57 AM
It was a bit of a shock to me: living near a fault line, I'd always thought that the area I live in (on a different island) was a more likely candidate for a big one.

Mrs Lisati has family down in Christchurch. Apparently they're all well.

A couple of news links for those who are interested:
http://www.3news.co.nz/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12586274

Dobbie03
February 26th, 2011, 07:28 AM
Dobbie, how far are you from Christchurch?

I am in the North Island, its my Mums side of the family who live down there. In Darfield actually where Septembers quake was centred.

mips
February 26th, 2011, 10:32 AM
Our big dairy company called Fonterra, now has 74 milk tankers delivering fresh water to sites around the city on a shuttle basis for people to bring own containers and fill up.


That would never happen over here unless they are getting paid.

MibunoOokami
March 7th, 2011, 10:44 AM
Hey folks, I too am from Christchurch. I wasn't here for the September quake was checking out the north island but quickly came down the following week since I have family here. We were so lucky to have no loss of life in the September and December quakes, so it is very sad that we had to get yet another quake which this time took lives. I think though we still are lucky in a way that the death toll was not significantly higher as the February quake hit during the average lunch period.

I felt rather bad that all we*my wife and I) lost were a few glasses and a picture, whilst others have lost significantly more. We were also very fortunate to have just left a badly affected area only about 15mins before the quake hit, not in the CBD but an area where some older shops have just fallen apart. Then on that night we were fortunate enough to get our power back and by the morning we had our water too. We did lose pressure to our hot water for a week and a half, but again that's nothing in comparison to so many others.

On Saturday evening the city was actually rocked by another quake 4.8M and 11KM deep really close to Lyttelton again. I missed the late night news and haven't heard if it caused more damage. The December quake caused quite a bit more damage and it was a 4.6 if I recall correctly.

Some good news is that on Saturday morning it was announced that no bodies were found in the Christchurch cathedral in the square which is so amazing since it was reported that up to 22 people were still inside when the spire came crashing through the roof.

It would also seem that the news jumped the gun and reported some incorrect information about a place called the Holy Cross chapel, where they thought a rescue attempt was being performed in the chapel's ruins until signs of life faded. Apparently what really happened was after the quake hit, the priest locked up the chapel and went home as did the bookshop owner. The suspected victim is said to have been an assessor assessing a different building's damage from a previous quake at the rear of the chapel. Furthermore it is alleged that the chapel was not destroyed during the quake.
I feel it was wrong for the media to have made their broadcast without having accurate information. Many people feared that it was the priest at the chapel that they were trying to rescue and that he had died. That priest (Fr. Raymond Schmack) is also a good friend of mine and I too was saddened at the thought he could have been trapped and lost his life. I have however heard from him and he is OK. I haven't heard his take on these events though. I just thought I'd share that with you all and it might be a relief to some of our other Christchurch members. I will make a small note, that my information about the Holy Cross Chapel is from a reliable source, though it has not been confirmed by the media so you may want to think of it as just another rumour.

I think the saddest part about the earthquake for me personally at this point, is that I met a man who had lost his son (2 or 3y/o) in the quake and that he and his family were actually only visiting from Wellington. For some reason I feel real bad for having asked how he and his family were, it just felt like a natural thing to ask.

To all the other Christchurch people here on Ubuntu forums, I hope you and your family and friends are OK. My condolences to anyone who lost someone close to them.

I don't know if this is allowed but I would like to make an announcement to anyone here who lives in, or has friends and family who live in London, that as per my signature there will be a fundraising event for the Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund. The Location is the Vibe Bar in Brick Lane London E 1 on Wednesday the 9th of March. Entry is 5£. The event starts at 1800 and should be a great evening’s entertainment. Bands will be playing and there will also be an Auction. Prizes like Dinners at restaurants, movie tickets, Tickets to Fat Freddies Drop Concert.


Sorry for the long post.

handy
March 7th, 2011, 11:06 AM
@MibunoOokami: Thanks for your valuable update.

Many of us much prefer to hear news from the man in the street, as opposed to the sensationalist news media.

So there was another quake last Saturday the 5th March.

Nobody needs that. :(

MibunoOokami
March 7th, 2011, 12:04 PM
So there was another quake last Saturday the 5th March.

Nobody needs that. :(

Yep. Oh and Wellington had a few 4.something magnitude quakes as well. That place has some serious faults and only 1 main road out of the city. If I recall correctly about 50% of the buildings there are not up to modern day standards, so the government is telling owners to reinforce their buildings or they will be demolished. Again you have to feel sorry for any of the poor Christchurch people who went to Wellington to get away from the quakes. It's almost as if the country is trying to shake itself apart.

handy
March 8th, 2011, 07:34 AM
When my wife & I were in NZ during the middle of last year, we were told by a tour guide down in the Fiordland that NZ was a long time overdue for a really serious earthquake. Not like the terrors that have been happening lately, but a whole country mover.

Which is a terrible thing to know that it lays awaiting in the future.

MibunoOokami
March 8th, 2011, 08:50 AM
When my wife & I were in NZ during the middle of last year, we were told by a tour guide down in the Fiordland that NZ was a long time overdue for a really serious earthquake. Not like the terrors that have been happening lately, but a whole country mover.

Which is a terrible thing to know that it lays awaiting in the future.


There is apparently some guy called the Lunar male or some such who who reckons he can predict earthquakes. It is alleged he predicted the February one, so now some people are freaked because before that he has also predicted a catostrophic one which is supposed to hit us either on 18 or 20 March 2011. That could be the country shaker if it happens.

MibunoOokami
March 10th, 2011, 02:44 PM
Not much of an update but if any non NZ members are interested and it's no0t appearing on your news much. Several more parts of the CBD have been opened to the public now, mostly for residents and people who own businesses there. Most of the USAR teams are heading back to their home countries. There will be memorial day on 18th March and allegedly that will be declared a public holiday. I sure hope that lunar guy's prediction is not right because that would be the worst memorial day ever.

mips
March 11th, 2011, 09:30 AM
Eish, a big one just hit Japan.

MibunoOokami
March 11th, 2011, 10:20 AM
Yep, the whole world is shaking itself apart by the looks of it. The biggest ones in the past 6mths NZ 7.1 & 6.3M, Vanuatu 7.2M and now Japan 8+ that's mad, I haven't kept up with world news much so there may be a few others in there.

This is another horrible experience for me because I have family and friends there that I can't get hold of. The worst thing is being in another country, I can't just jump in the car or on a bicycle to go check up on them.

mips
March 11th, 2011, 12:08 PM
This is another horrible experience for me because I have family and friends there that I can't get hold of. The worst thing is being in another country, I can't just jump in the car or on a bicycle to go check up on them.

Hope they are ok.

Google Person Finder setup for the earthquake:
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=ja Japanese
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en English

MibunoOokami
March 12th, 2011, 01:15 AM
Hope they are ok.

Google Person Finder setup for the earthquake:
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=ja Japanese
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en English

Cheers mate. I have been able to make contact with those closest to the worst hit area who are a bit shaken up (no pun intended) but are fine. I've yet to make contact with some family there.

MisterGaribaldi
March 13th, 2011, 05:45 AM
TBH, in a sort of I guess yin-yang kind of sense, I'd be surprised if the earthquakes in Christchurch NZ didn't have an influence on the earthquakes in Japan, and I'd be very surprised (especially given the intensity) if the earthquakes in Japan don't have an impact on Christchurch, or at least the region generally.

Y'know, if y'all want to hop a plane over here to the U.S., I'm sure we can find places for you to stay. Heck, this could turn into a kegger real quick, too.

Oh, and did I forget to mention we *do* have sushi over here, too?

MibunoOokami
March 21st, 2011, 10:11 AM
Well the lunar guy was semi accurate with his prediction that we would get another quake between 18 and 20 March, but it was not so huge that it would rock the entire country. We had a 5.1M aftershock (earthquake?) last evening, it was quite a violent shake (thankfully only lasted about 5 seconds or less) which was apparently centered in the eastern suburbs, 10-12KM deep, but did do a little extra damage to the already damaged buildings.
Many citizens left for the weekend fearing the lunar guy's prediction would come true, but I stayed put. I have been saying since the first quake, there's no point moving/going away because an earthquake can strike anywhere at any time.

It seems that the pacific plate is a little unstable, that's the one that caused the Feb 22 quake in NZ (and probably the others before that) as well as the one on March 11 in Japan.
I just pray there are no faults in the ocean near us, or if there are, that they don't get disrupted by the pacific plate, because this city is mostly all reclaimed land and Lyttelton was built in the base of an extinct volcano as I understand it, so we would suffer terribly if a tsunami struck.