Terrible 6.3 Earthquake in Christchurch New Zealand

[Bob T]

Yesterday at 12.51 pm local time there was a terrible earthquake which had devasting results, at the moment the death toll is 75 and rising and 300 missing . It has flattened a lot of buildings and caused a lot of liquifaction where the water smashes up through the ground and renders it into slushy mud. Infrastructure such as power, water , sewerage , phones are damaged or smashed beyond repair.
There is a National state of emergency with the Army  and Services mobilised and specialist rescue teams with dogs being flown in from Australia and Japan.
I've been following it on the news and net and the scale of destruction is just terrifiying, office blocks pancaked and builing frontages collapsing on pedestrians just walking by having their lunch . We are 1050 km away North but feel helpless when seeing our fellow countrymen in such despair and distress. Heard on the news that the crews were having to amputate limbs to get people out.
Heavy machinery has been working through the night and there have been some amazing and miracolous rescues but the outlook is grim and bleak for people still trapped inside the collapsed buildings.
This was on top of a 7.1 earthquake last September 4, which the city was trying to rebuild from.
Emergency accomodation in Schools and other buildings are being set up for people who have no home to go to.
I have elderly relatives and cousins down there, fortunately they are ok altough their houses were severly damaged, they just want out I expect and I would want the same.
A beautiful city which I have visited often and lived in for a few months on a job posting , now just smashed to bits along with everyone living there.

Terrible stuff.


some links to images

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/news-gallery/a/-/article/8890508/image/6/the-latest-pictures-from-the-christchurch-earthquake/


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/photos/4692812/Christchurch-quake-Day-2

[68X426]

Kelvin, good to hear that you are ok, thanks for the update. I didn't want to write knowing you could have had a big personal crisis and e-mail was the last thing you needed. We all wish you and the country a fast recovery.

In order to help out, forum members can make donations to Red Cross New Zealand at  http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate  I understand that US and International donations can be accepted by RCNZ, but I can't verify at this time. The American Red Cross will provide more info tomorrow.

Problem is that the NZ website is overloaded and crashed. But keep trying, because the Kiwis will need help (spelled cash!) tomorrow, next week and for months to come.

Google has launched its Person Finder site for New Zealand. If looking for leads on friends and relatives in NZ this may help you: http://christchurch-2011.person-finder.appspot.com/

[mikesbbody]

You will all be Happy to know, DC.coms most hated Member (Myself) is Alive and well!   due to the fact I live in the North Island. However, my Dad and his wife live there and for the 2nd time (2nd Major Quake in 6 months) they are both fine with no Damage to their house (they are very, very lucky) I was watching it on TV I called him he had no idea how serious it was (the power was out so no TV) all he could do was listen on a Battery radio) I told him they said 65 People were dead he didn't seem too bothered "really" he said (that's my Dad not a worrier) now they are saying at least 300 dead but who knows I told him it's time he got his Ass out of there and move away he's in his mid 70's and doesn't need that BS he said "yes we want to move now"
I have no known Mopar casualties to report  

[Bob T]

Thanks Dan , we're fine, we are up in Auckland in the North Island but there are a lot of people in a very bad way.

Good links too, Im just not thinking straight or I would've put up something similar , most of us have been hanging next to a radio or tv at work for updates. it just defies belief and description that this can happen in this day and age, the force f Mother Nature.
One of the worst things I heard today was  a little 9month old baby was killed during the quake by a tv falling on him while he was sitting on the floor at his parents place , miles away from the buildings falling down, so sad and so traumatic for the parents.
A mate of mine was ok but his truck just dropped into a huge crack in the road and they had to climb out and leave it.

The rescue operators are the heros, selfless dedication to duty and they will be local people with families in the same situation too. Pretty tough stuff for the Cantabrians to deal with.
Whats left of our AirForce ( just 727 transport planes really ) are flying tourists out and flying injured people to hospitals in other centres as the local ones are just overwhelmed




Yeah Mike, We're trying to get the elderly rellies up to stay with my Mother in Aucks but I fear my uncle is too infirm to travel , waiting to hear and see what their outcome is

[mikesbbody]

Everyone is helping out Rescue help coming in from Australia, and America and Japan these specialists will be here locating and removing Dead Bodies  we really appreciate the Help  Bob T, (Kelvin) I can see a lot of "for sale" signs going up on Houses now don't you think?

[Bob T]

Everyone is helping out Rescue help coming in from Australia, and America and Japan these specialists will be here locating and removing Dead Bodies  we really appreciate the Help  Bob T, (Kelvin) I can see a lot of "for sale" signs going up on Houses now don't you think?

Yeah, for sale or not, people would just be wanting to get the hell out .
sounds like an 80 strong team of rescue specialists is on the way from USA 


Latest update;

Canterbury police district commander Superintendent Dave Cliff gave the estimates of between 80 and more than 100 for those missing in the CTV building, soon after a colleague said that rescue work at the site had been halted by safety concerns.

Inspector Dave Lawry said he was "100 percent sure" there were no survivors in the building.

Hope is also fading for those trapped in the Pyne Gould Corporation building in Cambridge Terrace, though at least four people were pulled from the debris there today, the last a woman -- who had been trapped for 26 hours -- around 2.30pm.

There had been no communication with anyone trapped in the building for some hours since then.

"We are reaching that phase where hope is beginning to fade, but we are still there," Mr Cliff said about the PGC building.

Tonight Pyne Gould Corporation chairman Bruce Irvine confirmed 14 people remained trapped in the building.

Twenty two people are believed by police to have died in the collapse of ChristChurch Cathedral. Police dogs had been through the area of the 130-year-old city landmark and officers were confident there were no survivors there, Mr Cliff said.

One of the city's tallest buildings the Grand Chancellor Hotel in Cashel Street is teetering.

Reports said the hotel had slumped in one corner, prompting fears that should it collapse it could destroy surrounding buildings.

It has been a grim time in the central city, with medical staff in rescue teams having to amputate limbs to help free people trapped in rubble.

Mr Cliff said despite the lack of contact with people in the collapsed buildings, police were remaining optimistic.

"It is certainly possible that people could be in cavities in some of those sites, so we are not losing hope. The urban search and rescue teams are here for that purpose."

The Government this morning declared a national state of emergency following what Prime Minister John Key described as the "death and destruction on a dreadful scale" of the quake.

Mr Key told reporters this evening that Cabinet would discuss tomorrow funding strategies for quake-affected people.

"My sense tomorrow is we will moving into looking at packages for businesses, employees and those who will be struggling to make ends meet.

"At the moment really the sole focus has been on rescue and recovery and getting back the core services as quickly as we can.

"But very quickly people are going to have to address the issue that they have outgoings, they don't have jobs to go to, businesses can't reopen and that is not something that is going to be resolved quickly."

Mr Key said as with September 4 quake, some sort of package was likely to be brought in. The length of time it was in place would have to be discussed.

About 80 percent of the city remains without water.

Power had been restored to over 60 percent of Christchurch but progress was slow, lines company Orion said this afternoon.

The company said parts of Lyttelton had power again but Christchurch's eastern suburbs were more problematic due to network and road damage.

About 300 Australian police officers are among a large international contingent helping with rescue efforts.

Police asked people desperate to find loved ones to go to the family liaison centre at Papanui police station to register their concerns, rather than going to work sites and damaged buildings.

The Queen and world leaders have sent messages of sympathy.

"I have been utterly shocked by the news of another earthquake in Christchurch. Please convey my deep sympathy to the families and friends of those who have been killed; my thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this dreadful event," the Queen said in a statement on her website.

United States President Barack Obama and wife Michelle have sent their condolences to the victims of quake-ravaged Christchurch.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives have been touched by this tragedy, especially as they search for their loved ones and work to recover from this disaster," he said in a statement.

To assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, the US would deploy a US Agency for International Development Disaster Assistance Response Team, including an urban search and rescue team, to help with the rescue and recovery effort.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron was one of a number of other world leaders to send their sympathies.

[mikesbbody]

I don't know where the number 300 casualties came from but I did hear it now I'm hearing just 76 but that number will rise

[boss429kiwi]

I don't know where the number 300 casualties came from but I did hear it now I'm hearing just 76 but that number will rise

113 confirmed, over 250 still missing

Hi guys

We live 4 hours drive (400km) from Christchurch, but we felt it.

Guys, ITS BAD!     

There will be approx 300 dead (not "bad" for the damage), but I honestly don't think the City Christchurch with a pop of 1/2 million can/will rebuild!
The future insurance issues are going to be complicated and problematic. The land is too fragmented.

Thanks for your concerns.
My family are well, and we are now offering our house to Chrishchurch familys to stay, free, for as long as they need to.

[Bob T]

Hi guys

We live 4 hours drive (400km) from Christchurch, but we felt it.

Guys, ITS BAD!     

There will be approx 300 dead (not "bad" for the damage), but I honestly don't think the City Christchurch with a pop of 1/2 million can/will rebuild!
The future insurance issues are going to be complicated and problematic. The land is too fragmented.

Thanks for your concerns.
My family are well, and we are now offering our house to Chrishchurch familys to stay, free, for as long as they need to.

So boss, Dunedin? or thereabouts, spent a bit of time down that way a few years ago, great part of the country and the old cliche of the people are so friendly is so true.

Yes, it all seems so unreal to have this terrible tragedy happening in little old NZ, really feel so sad for the loss of life and people's livelihoods and assets being smashed to pieces and familes being torn asunder. Cant do much up here except donate to the rescue causes. Houses and cars and material assets can be replaced but the fallout from the loss of loved ones will last for the longest time. A few months ago I went to the movies and saw Aftershock about the Tangshun Earthquake in china in 1976, that movie stayed with me for days , lingering on about what the human cost of it was. Such dark days for the people of Christchurch. With the tv channels running wall to wall coverage it is a bit overwhelming at times but it is important to keep up to date.

On a more positive note, my cousin was able to secure two seats on a flight up to Aucks late on thurs night for my elderly Aunt & Uncle from Avonside so they will be coming up to stay with Family in the meanwhile, will go out and see them this weekend.

A few more pics before and after

http://www.news.com.au/world/christchurch-cathedral-before-and-after/story-e6frfl00-1226010081646

[boss429kiwi]

Yes, Dunedin.

Please watch this video.
I am not sure why, maybe because its in Black and white, I don't know, but I'm man enough to say, I shed a tear watching this!

http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Fours-days-of-quake-aftermath/tabid/367/articleID/199922/Default.aspx

[remta1]

Good to see another conrodder on this website...I was working in Christchurch when the earthquake struck , I am up here for six weeks and the earthquake struck on my second week .The building i work in was only 10kms away from where the epicentre of the earthquake stuck it was the most aggressively violent thing I have ever encountered.

I was thrown out of my desk and smashed against a wall ..most of the staff are battered and bruised from similar  scenarios but we all made it out safely.I sent everyone home to be with their families all are safe .I had to make my way around to the other side of the city to get back to my hotel unit ( my real home is in Dunedin ) ..little did I or anyone else know the carnage that we would encounter with the other earthquakes that also took place that day(it is too graffic to describe in detail )What is really hard to deal with is the fact that you feel so helpless but you have to make sure that you are strong first ,because you are no good to anyone else if your mind is in the wrong place.
    Survival instincts kicked in very quickly when I finally got back to my motel unit I had my Bicycle in the back of my car and it got me thru traffic i went back for my car later.At that stage we still had power and water I filled everything i could with water even the rubbish bin .Phones were out for a long time and every second felt like a minute and every minute felt like an hour.I finally got a hold of my wife and told her I was ok.I waited for further instructions from my bosses.

I got a call when the phones temporarily came back on instructing me to go home .I reluctantly left as i wanted to stay and help but they wouldnt let people because of the contunuing dangers.I dont know when i left Christchurch , how long the journey took , or when I got back to Dunedin it was a blur I held it together until I got home what a beautiful sight it was to see my wife and family.

[remta1]

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers and the help you have sent over..it is absolutely amazing .My story pales in significance to what has happenned to so many others.All of those emergency personnel and everybody who is helping to find survivors and give dignity and respect to those who have passed away .
 All of those people are putting their lives on the line they truly are all incredible heroes , the people of Christchurch are absolutely amazing also to face such tragedy ,incredibly brave and strong to go thru what they are going thru..absolutely remarkable.We have sent water and other supplies up for our team so we can get our building and operation going again as quickly as possible .

I feel so guilty about having to leave them as we are still being stood down until it is safe to go back  but I will be back up soon to help them not only in rebuilding their building but also rebuilding their lives .They are my other "family " and i will look forward to helping them as much as I can soon as we are hoping to go back up within the next couple of days.

On a personal note its great to wake up each day....make the most you can with your family and friends put that accelerator to the floor and grin from ear to ear ....
Regards
Jase

[Bob T]

Hi remta1 jase, glad to hear you were ok, good recount of events. Just an absolute tragedy, the effects of which will echo down the generations to come. The loss of material assets and a job is one thing but to have a Family member gone or missing would be pretty tough to deal with.
The new world supermarket chain is offering free freight to ChCh for supplies and stuff and there is an appeal from the Student Army Volenteers for wheelbarrows and shovels and the like for the vollies to help dig out and clean up with so I'm going to bunnings today to get that organised.
Lots of fundraising stuff going on up here at the moment too, with local schools and newspapers and wet & forget company and mad butcher and many other companies are all running donation campaigns to collect money and get it to the Red Cross or other similar entities to help out. Smits group is running a CarCrazy fundraiser next thurday night for the car people to raise funds as well. They are lots of people trying to help

Yes, Dunedin.

Please watch this video.
I am not sure why, maybe because its in Black and white, I don't know, but I'm man enough to say, I shed a tear watching this!

http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Fours-days-of-quake-aftermath/tabid/367/articleID/199922/Default.aspx

Good clip boss429, Yes , agreed it is a pretty tough clip to watch, I've  send it to a few overseas Kiwi friends.
My elderly Aunt and Uncle from Avonside were evac'd out up to Auckland on wednesday night, I went over to see them with my wife and Daughter on sunday. Man they were exhausted and still really rattled, jump at any bang of the door and still frayed nerves. They are done with it and dont want to head back anytime time soon or maybe at all. They are staying with other relatives which is fortunate, but we are looking around for a place for them.

Their Daughter ( my Cousin ) and son in law were not so fortunate though, their house was smashed so bad that they got the parents on the plane and got on their motorbike and headed for timaru, I think they will be heading for Perth , just cant go back, their place was still damaged from the September earthquake but this is the final straw for them.

A few pics

[Bob T]

A few more