Earthquake Christchurch

[Lovelee]

6.3 just struck .. power & phones out and buildings collapsed

[Lovelee]

The following earthquake has been recorded by GNS Science:

        Reference number:        3468575/G
        Universal Time:          21 February 2011 at 23:51
        NZ Daylight Time:        Tuesday, 22 February 2011 at 12:51 pm
        Latitude, Longitude:     43.60°S, 172.71°E
        Location:                10 km south-east of Christchurch
        Focal depth:             5 km
        Richter magnitude:       6.3

[TokGal]

Just spoke to nephew's wife on cellphone, their house is wrecked and she said everything is falling down around them. She reckons it is worse than the last time. I'm worried because she is expecting twins in July and I don't think it is a good environment to be in. too much adrenalin going into her system can't be good....can it?

[Lovelee]

Definately not .. Im surprised anyone is still living down there .. I would have upped sticks and family in September personally.

[Lovelee]

A huge earthquake has struck Canterbury with witnesses reporting the 6.3 magnitude quake felt more violent than the quake in September.

GNS Science said the quake was centred at Lyttelton at a depth of 5km at 12.51pm.

GNS said the earthquake would have caused more damage than the original 7.1 earthquake because of its shallow depth.

Herald reporter Jarrod Booker said the shake lasted approximately a minute and was extremely violent - rocking buildings back and forth.

He said people had left buildings and were out on the streets where tarmac had cracked and water mains had burst, causing extensive flooding.

The whole central city was in grid lock as people tried to evacuate central businesses to check their homes, he said.

Traffic lights are out and cars were also having to negotiate around hordes of people on foot.

Jarrod Booker said that he could hear sirens but that it would be difficult for emergency services to access the city because of the gridlock.

Article continues below

"Even sitting in a car you can feel continual shaking on a smaller scale than the original quake," he said.

Mayor Bob Parker said he was "thrown quite a distance" by the earthquake.

"That was, in the city central anyway, as violent as the one that happened on the 4th of September," he told Radio New Zealand.

Mr Parker said there were scenes of "great confusion" on the streets, also saying the roads were jammed as vehicles sought to get out of the central city.

"I know of injuries in my building and there are unconfirmed reports of serious injuries in the city."

Mr Parker did not know the extent of damage to the city's infrastructure, but advised people not to drink the water supply.

"We've been through this before this once, we now need to think we did at that time."

Buildings collapsed

Jarrod Booker said Christchurch's historic cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street had half collapsed, with the remaining part of the building filled with cracks.

There is huge damage to other older buildings with large amounts of debris falling to the ground.

He said the carpark at the Christchurch Star had turned into a river with huge cracks and that the roads had risen in areas.

People were comforting people outside amid a general state of shock as people tried to absorb what had happened, he said.

Liquifaction

Radio New Zealand reported widespread damage to the city centre, with a church on Durham St collapsed and concrete lifted by up to a metre.

A Newstalk ZB reporter in Christchurch said liquefaction was spewing out of the ground at St Albans High School.

School kids had to be removed from the fields with liquefaction also spewing from the tennis courts.

Civil Defence response

Civil Defence spokesman Vince Cholewa said the National Crisis Centre had been activated and was preparing the Government response.

"the quake is significantly smaller than the previous Christchurch earthquake, however it was very shallow and might have been very close to the centre of the city," he said.

Mr Cholewa was not aware of any casualties or the extent of the damage.

"We are still getting a picture of what has happened and we are aware of the details."

Phone lines are down and calls are not being connected to emergency services.

Twitter users have reported feeling the quake in Wellington and Dunedin.

Today's quake was shallower and closer to Christchurch than the original Darfield quake, which took place 30km west of the city at a depth of 33kms.

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

[Lovelee]

 large quake has struck Christchurch, with reports of buildings and houses down.

Witnesses said there were buildings down all around Cathedral Square in the city, with the church destroyed. Witnesses said there would be "deaths" this time. Christchurch resident Sean Scanlon said it was by far the biggest shake since the original September 4 quake. The power was out and phone lines jammed.

Christchurch Hospital was being evacuated, a spokewoman for the hospital said

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4688231/Large-quake-strikes-Christchurch

[Lovelee]

TV ONe ... this isnt good

[Lovelee]

hmm .. suspicions that some people are in cars that have been crushed

[Newtown-Fella]

SkyNews heard on Police Radio whist cop being interviewed suspected 1 dead .....

there sadly wil be more dead ...

[Lovelee]

[Jodes]

I've been reading all about it on Facebook.....very sad and sorry for Christchurch.

[Lovelee]

OMG that looked like a body!!!!

[Jodes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt0iIHXFnR0&feature=player_embedded

[Lovelee]

05pm
TVNZ reported that a body had been pulled from a car that had been hit by rubble.

2.03pm
Prime Minister John Key is currently making a statement in Parliament. An emergency cabinet meeting will be held at 3pm, after which he will fly to Christchurch.

2.01pm
The Fire Service has confirmed to Radio New Zealand there have been deaths.

1.58pm
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said he was in "deep shock" after receiving reports of today's quake.

He was "desperately" trying to get home from an overseas conference after receiving initial reports about extensive damage to Christchurch.

"My worry is for all the people that are affected. My thoughts are with my own family that are there."

1.51pm:
Vodafone spokesperson Matt East said:

"We have a large number of sites down in the Canterbury region. There are about 43 sites running on battery back-up. Those sites will last, depending on the load on them, eight to 12 hours.

"We are asking people if they need to contact someone to please text them because it uses a lot less energy on the network and only call if you need to."

1.50pm:
Civil Defence advice:

Check yourself first for injuries and get first aid if necessary before helping injured or trapped persons.

Assess your home or workplace for damage. If the building appears unsafe get everyone out. Use the stairs, not an elevator and when outside, watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines. Stay out of damaged areas.

Look for and extinguish small fires if it is safe to do so. Fire is a significant hazard following earthquakes.

Listen to the radio for updated emergency information and instructions.

Do not overload phone lines with non-emergency calls.

Help people who require special assistance - infants, elderly people, those without transportation, families who may need additional help, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.

Detailed safety advice will come from local authorities and emergency services in the area. People should act on it promptly. MCDEM, local civil defence authorities and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation.

1.48pm
National Business Review reporter Chris Hutching told the NBR website: "The roads are running with water. It's like rivers everywhere. The shakes are happening every minute. There are constant aftershocks."

1.45pm
A "huge chunk" of the cathedral has reportedly collapsed and there are people trapped inside.

1.44pm
A TV3 reporter said the Pyne Gould building in Cambridge Tce had collapsed.

1.44pm
A transpower spokesman says there had been damage to the power grid, with power blackouts in the area. It was still too early to ascertain the extent of the damage.

1.42pm
The TVNZ building in Christchurch had collapsed, a source, who described the quake as "massive", told NZPA.

1.41pm
The Christchurch police central police station has been evacuated and there are reports of collapses of many buildings, including a church in the central city.

David Alexander told NZPA the quake had ruined his 1906 villa in Opawa, about 4km from the central city.

"It's done a lot of damage, it was really violent and quick. We've got glass everywhere. Our house has just been trashed."

His piano was tilted at a 45 degree angle, and had smashed a hole in a wall, the Christchurch photographer said.

The quake had been like thunder, with a big violent bang.

He was certain the three chimneys the house once had would have come down, had they not been removed after the September quake.

He could hear sirens in the streets as emergency services activated, while in his house wardrobes were over, cupboards open, and porcelain and smashed china was everywhere.

"That was frightening. We've got huge cracks in the roof we didn't have two weeks ago, when the inspectors came (to check damage cause by the September quake).

1.39pm
There are reports of people trapped in a building in Colombo St.

1.38pm
Media statement from Telecom: Telecom is working intensively to understand which services have been affected by today's earthquake and get these restored as soon as possible.

Our thoughts are with the people of Canterbury.

1.35pm
Christchurch International Aiport says it is closed until further notice

1.33pm
Mayor Bob Parker described it as feeling like a brand new quake, saying he was "thrown quite a distance".

"That was, in the city central anyway, as violent as the one that happened on the 4th of September," he told Radio New Zealand.

Mr Parker said there were scenes of "great confusion" on the streets, and the roads were jammed as vehicles sought to get out of the central city.

"I know of injuries in my building and there are unconfirmed reports of serious injuries in the city."

Mr Parker did not know the extent of damage to the city's infrastructure, but advised people not to drink the water supply.

"We've been through this before this once, we now need to think we did at that time."

1.33pm
Christchurch resident Jane Smith who works in the central city told the Herald a work colleague had just returned from helping rescue efforts after a building facade had collapsed on a bus on Colombo St.

"There's people dead. He was pulling them out of a bus."

"Columbo St is completely munted."

"We can't move at the moment because the city's gridlocked."

1.30pm
The huge aftershock would have caused more shaking and more damage than the original 7.1 magnitude quake that hit Christchurch on September 3 last year, Geonet has confirmed.

Its data centre manager Kevin Fenaughty said residents said the quake's epicentre was located in the "worst possible location" for the city.

"It's a nightmare. A lot of people were just getting back on their feet after the original quake."

1.28pm
"We now need to think about all the things we learnt at that time (of the September 4 quake)," mayor Bob Parker said on Radio New Zealand.

"Emergency services now have the incredibly difficult task of navigating a city which is evacuating itself.

"We need to start the process of checking hundreds of people.

"I don't have an overview.

"That was as violent as the earthquake we had on the September 4th.

"We had a nasty shock again about 30 to 60 seconds later."

1.27pm
Christchurch major Bob Parker told Radio New Zealand that he's heard unconfirmed reports of some serious injuries.

1.26pm:
Twitter reports:
Kodie Wixon - "Was out playing touch on hagley park, big rumble, ground was just shaking, it felt like i was drunk swaying around!"

1.24pm
The BusinessDesk news agency reported that the kiwi dollar dropped almost half a US cent from US76.32 cents immediately before the quake to US75.79 cents immediately afterwards.

1.23pm:
Sky News reports that Christchurch Hospital has been evacuated.

Newstalk ZB reports people were running out of buildings and that liquefaction has been spotted on the eastern side of the city.

Several buildings that suffered damage from the September 4 earthquake have collapsed, according to reports.

1.20pm:
Civil Defence spokesman Vince Cholewa said the National Crisis Centre has been triggered and was preparing what Government response there would be.

"The quake is significantly smaller than the previous Christchurch earthquake, however it was very shallow and might have been very close to the centre of the city," he said.

Mr Cholewa was not aware of any casualties or the extent of the damage.

"We are still getting a picture of what has happened and we are aware of the details."

1.19pm
Phone links have been cut to the city. Both Vodafone and Telecom said they were investigating. "We're checking the status of network in Christchurch and will update when we can," Vodafone said.

1.15pm:
Twitter reports:
@edmuzik William rolleston has fallen backwards off his plinth, head fallen off
@edmuzik: Observatory in the arts centre has fallen down, may be builders in it

1.10pm
The quake was magnitude 6.3 at a depth of 5km, centred 10km southeast of Christchurch.

1.09pm:
Tweet from Phil Goff in Christchurch:
Big #eqnz in Chch - glasses & plates smashing, we've just been evacuated from Chch airport.

1.05pm:
Witness reports from Facebook:
"In Rangiora and it felt huge - hope Christchurch is OK"

"Felt it in dunedin"

"Felt it in queenstown!"

1:03pm
Witness reports from Facebook:
"bloody awful here nr Sheffield - house rolled up and down and shook violently for a good 10 secons or more - husband in town has no power - i am a shaking wrekc."

"Yes my house is a mess, feel bigger that the big one, way bigger"

"Felt huge. Everything smashed, furniture upturned. Very scary"

"Massive destruction I'm the inner city"

1:02pm
The earthquake was felt as far north as Wellington and as far south as Queenstown.

1:00pm:
Phone lines are down so it's difficult to get information, but Herald reporter Jarrod Booker said in a brief phone call that they were experiencing a massive earthquake, "bigger than the original". He sounded very shaken.

[Lovelee]

        The following earthquake has been recorded by GNS Science:

        Reference number:        3468595/G
        Universal Time:          22 February 2011 at 00:21
        NZ Daylight Time:        Tuesday, 22 February 2011 at 1:21 pm
        Latitude, Longitude:     43.61°S, 172.89°E
        Location:                10 km east of Diamond Harbour
        Focal depth:             5 km
        Richter magnitude:       4.5

[Lovelee]

The Cathedral

[Lovelee]

There have been 'multiple fatalities' after a shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch this afternoon caused buildings to collapse, police have confirmed.

Police said fatalities had been reported at several locations and that two buses had been crushed by falling buildings.

Christchurch resident Jane Smith, who works in the central city, told the Herald a work colleague had just returned from helping rescue efforts after a building facade had collapsed on a bus on Colombo St.

"There's people dead. He was pulling them out of a bus. Colombo St is completely munted."Police said there were reports of fires in buildings in the central city and of people being trapped.

All available police staff were helping with the rescue operation and the Defence Force had been called in to assist.

Triage centres have been established for the injured at Latimer Square in the central city, Spotlight Mall in Sydenham and Sanitarium in Papanui.

Shallow quake

GNS Science said the quake was centred at Lyttelton at a depth of 5km at 12.51pm.

GNS said the earthquake would have caused more damage than the original 7.1 earthquake on September 4 because of its shallow depth.

Its data centre manager Kevin Fenaughty said residents said the quake's epicentre was located in the "worst possible location" for the city.

"It's a nightmare. A lot of people were just getting back on their feet after the original quake."

Another earthquake of 4.5 struck at 1.21pm, 10 km east of Diamond Harbour.

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

Another violent A/S happening right now

[TokGal]

Without wanting to appear facetious this is one damn good reason for the government to cancel those new cars, the money would be better spent rebuilding Christchurch.

Just heard there has been another aftershock, not known how big yet

[Lovelee]

Ha good point Tok .. yeh I think theyve had about 4 - 5 A/S's  ...

multiple deaths too

[Lovelee]

There are reports that all airspace in New Zealand has been closed following the earthquake.

Airways NZ, the national Air Traffic Control organisation, is based in Christchurch, and unconfirmed reports are coming in that it has been hit by the earthquake.

So far, four international flights have been diverted to Wellington Airport.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10707997

[Newtown-Fella]

the heros in this who shouldnt be over looked who are putting their own lives at risk are the rescuers ....

Sky Nws Channel 90 is showing unedited live streams


rescuers working on the Pyne Gould Guines Building which has collapsed with many trapped inside ...

this isnt just a problem for Chch BUT the wholecountry wil feel the effects for moths to come

recover from the Recession i dont think it will happen over night .....

[Lovelee]

agreed Newt .. they need desperate help down there .. and they needed it yesterday .. not tomorrow

[donquixotenz]

seems emergency services are having comm problems as too many jamming lines despite being asked not to.
Seems to me that govt should sort out with telecom and others dedicated lines and cell bandwidth in emergency situations to avoid being jammed by people panicing and jamming the lines trying to contact family and friends as that is not as important as the emergency services being able to communicated properly.
These clowns that are jamming the syatem should relise they may be hindering the survival of their loved ones.

[Lovelee]

I dont think telecom and the cops etc use the same lines don

[Lovelee]

The following earthquake has been recorded by GNS Science:

        Reference number:        3468630/G
        Universal Time:          22 February 2011 at 01:39
        NZ Daylight Time:        Tuesday, 22 February 2011 at 2:39 pm
        Latitude, Longitude:     43.56°S, 172.74°E
        Location:                10 km north-east of Lyttelton
        Focal depth:             8 km
        Richter magnitude:       4.0


The following earthquake has been recorded by GNS Science:

        Reference number:        3468581/G
        Universal Time:          22 February 2011 at 00:04
        NZ Daylight Time:        Tuesday, 22 February 2011 at 1:04 pm
        Latitude, Longitude:     43.60°S, 172.63°E
        Location:                10 km south of Christchurch
        Focal depth:             6 km
        Richter magnitude:       5.7


The following earthquake has been recorded by GNS Science:

        Reference number:        3468631/G
        Universal Time:          22 February 2011 at 01:37
        NZ Daylight Time:        Tuesday, 22 February 2011 at 2:37 pm
        Latitude, Longitude:     43.75°S, 172.86°E
        Location:                30 km south-east of Christchurch
        Focal depth:             5 km
        Richter magnitude:       3.4



        The following earthquake has been recorded by GNS Science:

        Reference number:        3468608/G
        Universal Time:          22 February 2011 at 00:46
        NZ Daylight Time:        Tuesday, 22 February 2011 at 1:46 pm
        Latitude, Longitude:     43.65°S, 172.87°E
        Location:                10 km east of Lyttelton
        Focal depth:             5 km
        Richter magnitude:       4.4