Another large quake hits Christchurch New Zealand

Originally posted by The time lord

*They said a school building calapsed, were there any children in there, what time did it actually happen over there? Were kids at school?

My mothers friend lives in Oamaru who had a daughter in Christchurch when it struck, the daughter went to her sons school to pick him up and she mentioned that all the kids where on the field and 3/4's of em where all crying (understandably) ....

Thankfully the quake hit near the end of school lunch (usually goes from 12:10 to 1pm in most schools in NZ), also alot of schools here tend to be single story buildings only, although in Auckland my old high school had alot of 2 story blocks, not sure about Christchurch in comparison. So hopefully no school kids got badly injured, apart from the obvious mental shock.

Thoughts and prayers to all those across the ditch,

2nd line.

I have visited Christchurch a couple of times, in 1993 and again in 1998. Back in October 1993, I paid two NZ dollars to climb up to the top of the cathedral spire, where the view was quite good. That tower has now collapsed into a pile of rubble.

And when I visited again in 1998, I stayed my first night at the Stonehurst backpacker hotel. That building has collapsed as well!

Amazing how the mainstream media hasn't been live there with more information already.
I've only seen this on HLN so far, CNN is more worried about the union strikes than the lives at stake behind emergency response in NZ. Time is critical to reach those that are trapped. I'd hate to see a Katrina type of response to this massively destructive quake.
The video I did seen showed random people and no uniforms moving rocks and debris from a fallen building.

I wish you guys the best over there in NZ all the way from Nashville, TN.

I just finished reading all the posts in this thread. I have been glued to watching and reading anything about these quakes in NZ since I received a text message this morning while I was driving to work that spoke of it.

I had a pen-pal when I was a boy that lived in New Zealand, I hope he doesnt live anywhere near any of this.

Good luck Kiwis, and hopefully you guys don't have anymore earthquake problems anytime soon.

reply to post by EdOfTheDead


MSM are relying on local news channels to get the news to them.

the major channels here in NZ have live coverage all day of the rescue attempts.

MSM is also mainly interested in the Middle East Issues.

Ive just driven to our local mall to try and get some tools to fix our leaking water cylinder, but all the shops are closed. Managed to get some emergency cash from an atm.

Ended up getting some tools from our neighbour instead, job done.

Originally posted by EdOfTheDead
Amazing how the mainstream media hasn't been live there with more information already.
I've only seen this on HLN so far, CNN is more worried about the union strikes than the lives at stake behind emergency response in NZ.

I was watching CNN and BBC in Wellington yesterday afternoon - their coverage was fine. Fox News led with the Wisoncin thingie, which to be honest I didn't pay too much attention to, but I do not begrudge people concern at their local affairs over those of a small country far away.

New Zealand is small on the global scene compared to Libya, for example - we should get used to it. People are dying every day around the world from something or other horrible - we are in the fortunate position that it doesn't happen here very often at all, and we have had a lot of time to learn from elsewhere.

Christchurch is unfortunate in that it was not thought to be in an earthquake zone, so local building regulations were not as strong as, say, Wellington - I look out my office window at an escarpment about 100m high that runs more-or-less along the largest fault in the country. But in Wellington we know it's there - every new building is on rubber & lead bearings (or similar), brick buildings are heavily reinforced.

It is a bit ironic that much of NZ's research into earthquake-proofing concrete structures has been carried out at Canterbury University's School of Engineering Civil Engineering department!

Emergency service workers are the heroes of New Zealand at the moment.

Working through a freezing cold night in heavy rain, resources severely stretched. Those Men/Women deserve medals.

Hospital Staff worked in the dark all night helping huge numbers of patients.

ive been watching live news coverage all day yesterday and this morning before i had to come to work this is so sad and all us kiwis need to stand strong and give blood and donations the heart of the city has just been crushed it is a dark day in new zealand my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected in this tradgy i hope that this the end for all their suffering


karma

Originally posted by EdOfTheDead
Amazing how the mainstream media hasn't been live there with more information already.
I've only seen this on HLN so far, CNN is more worried about the union strikes than the lives at stake behind emergency response in NZ. Time is critical to reach those that are trapped. I'd hate to see a Katrina type of response to this massively destructive quake.
The video I did seen showed random people and no uniforms moving rocks and debris from a fallen building.

I can assure you there are no ' random' people moving about near the collapsed buildings etc. Overnight 120+ were pulled from these buildings and at least two people had to have amputations to be freed. I am watching a livestream ( I am in NZ) and there are uniformed people absolutely everywhere. Has been since shortly after the quake. Also, we have 3 TV channels with constant coverage and that has been since 30 minutes after the event yesterday. 300 Australian police are arriving today and I have heard that there are American and Japanese S&R peeps coming also.

Originally posted by LS650
IAnd when I visited again in 1998, I stayed my first night at the Stonehurst backpacker hotel. That building has collapsed as well!

We were almost neighbours - I lived directly over the road from the Stonehurst until 1991 - many was the evening spent geting liquored with tourists!

the pictures of the building that only has the stairwells surviving and was on fire - the CTV building - is just 200m or so from the Stonehurst, diagonally opposite Latimer Square.

Originally posted by annella
I can assure you there are no ' random' people moving about near the collapsed buildings etc.

I think he was refering to initial video of those who were reacting immediately after the quake - before eth emergency services were mobilised - lot of people helping their co-workers or anyone who looked like they needed it - if you weer there you helped if you could.

Same as anywhere else in the world in the first few minutes after such an event.

Link to Christchurch Newspaper for latest accounts and videos/pictures
Christchurch Press
Thoughts and Wishes to All
**Hug a Loved one 2day**

Well since I started this thread (and it got moved to Fragile earth...grrr) I've found that all my relatives up in Christchurch are safe (though my youngest cousins husbands brother is MIA in the CBD).

I'd ask that folks take the conspiracy and prostletizing to new threads else where. Thanks

Gareth

Here is a live stream with the latest news in NZ:

TVNZ - Live stream

My heart goes out to the people of New Zealand.
How much more can NZ and Aussies take?

My girlfriends parents live in Christs Church and when the earthquake hit her father was trapped in the university while it was burning. they did get him out, but her elderly mother was injured when debris fell on her while she was home. spooky stuff, I'm suppose to move over there and now I'm kinda having second thoughts, especially because she lives really close to the volcanoes in Auckland

Originally posted by BigfootNZ
reply to post by Light soul

 

Its not as big as the last one from all accounts, but alot more shallower... hence its destructive capabilities. Dont think Christchurch and the surrounding area will be recovering anytime soon from this one. Hope they get as few casualties as possible, wont hold my breath this time however...

And on a fine sunny midday like today, not a good mix

Yes, thats what i meant. Bigger as in bigger destruction. So sad.

reply to post by anumohi


sorry to be a lil off topic i don't think you have anything to worry about living in auckland all the volcanos are dormet and no earthquakes happen here yet anyway



thoughts and prayers with the familys of chch no others confirmed dead yet i hope that the number does not rise!

reply to post by Scrambled_Eggs


Scrambled eggs you really are scrambled in the head. The reason so many churches fell is they are old, built of bricks and have no reinforcing or very little. Same with the Press building. They are of similar age and heritage and in most cities aroudnthe world the churches are all heritage age. Plus they've been through one major quake and hundreds of aftershocks.

Anything else you need to add about some 'spiritual' reason the church were destroyed? Hey, a finance company building and a TV building dropped also maybe it proves something else? Go and have a coffee - you need one.

reply to post by daggyz


How dare you speak sense. HERETIC!!!

Yeah pretty much what you said, and also they were damaged from the September 4th and Boxing day shakes.

I was up in Christchurch after the September 4th shake (about 2 weeks after) and it was a mess, I dread to see it this time (I may be heading up to help my Uncle and Cousins clean up if need be).

Living in New Zealand you generally grow up knowing an earthquake can hit, it's different when one does, but I know when I moved to the USA, my first Tornado season scared the hells out of me, it's what you know that is less scary than the new. Or it is to me anyhow.

Retiring to New Zealand last July, the September shake really reminded me, it's still scary as hell, and I was in Dunedin to the south, where we just got a good shake :/