7.0 earthquake hits Christchurch, New Zealand

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the 7.0 earthquake that hit Christchurch, New Zealand, focusing on the immediate impacts, personal experiences, and the broader implications of the event, including political aspects and community responses. Participants share their thoughts on the nature of natural disasters and their societal effects, as well as personal anecdotes related to the quake.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that natural disasters often become political issues, questioning the appropriateness of discussing such topics in the forum.
  • There are mixed feelings about the level of debate that can arise from the earthquake, with some expressing skepticism about the potential for meaningful discussion.
  • Personal accounts of experiencing the earthquake highlight varying degrees of damage and emotional responses, with one participant describing significant aftershocks and infrastructure damage.
  • Concerns about looting were raised, with some participants downplaying the extent of the issue and emphasizing the disciplined response of the community.
  • Participants discuss the structural integrity of buildings, contrasting wood and concrete construction, and how these materials perform during earthquakes.
  • There is mention of the historical context of earthquakes in New Zealand, including the potential for more severe quakes in the future.
  • Some participants express gratitude for the lack of fatalities, while acknowledging the significant financial costs associated with the damage.
  • Discussion includes reflections on the effectiveness of civil defense responses and community preparedness for such disasters.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the absence of fatalities being a positive outcome, but there are multiple competing views regarding the political implications of the disaster and the adequacy of community responses. The discussion remains unresolved on several points, particularly regarding the nature of the debate and the extent of damage and looting.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the long-term implications of the earthquake, including potential future seismic activity and the effectiveness of current building codes and preparedness measures. There is also a lack of consensus on the characterization of the community's response to the disaster.

  • #31
Another earthquake has hit Christchurch, 6.3, 5km deep.

www.nzherald.co.nz

www.stuff.co.nz

for updates. 65 confirmed dead so far. Absolutely shocking. I actually went to ChCh in October last year (my dad and I had originally purchased tickets in March for about $17 one way from Wellington - special deal was going on) and the place I stayed at, reports bodies have been removed from there.
 
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  • #32
Thanks, Stevie

http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3468575g-maps.html
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usb0001igm.php#details

Shallow earthquakes followed by a swarm of shallow aftershocks means a lot of damage.

I'm waiting to hear from relatives there. It may be a while. :frown:
 
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  • #33
Apeiron, glad you are well. The death rate is quite significant - officially at 65, but realistically expected to be in the hundreds. Which is understandable, given that whole buildings collapsed on top of people, in a city. Very sad - no cause for frivolity here.

Our government (Australia) was quick with the aid - flying over about 100 search and rescue people within hours of the event, and extending offers of anything else that's needed.
 
  • #34
Looting ? Just to add, we've been watching it for most of the day, and there hasn't been one report of looting. In fact, quite the opposite - folk were orderly and well disciplined. The emergency services have been marvelous, often dragging people out of collapsed building even as those buildings continued to deteriorate during aftershocks.

quote edit
 
  • #35
alt said:
Apeiron, glad you are well. The death rate is quite significant - officially at 65, but realistically expected to be in the hundreds. Which is understandable, given that whole buildings collapsed on top of people, in a city. Very sad - no cause for frivolity here.

Our government (Australia) was quick with the aid - flying over about 100 search and rescue people within hours of the event, and extending offers of anything else that's needed.

Actually I don't think apeiron has checked in yet. The post you read was from the last quake.

I really hope he's OK!
 
  • #36
lisab said:
Actually I don't think apeiron has checked in yet. The post you read was from the last quake.

I really hope he's OK!

OOPS ! Thanks. Should have looked a the dates.

I hope so too. Being so close, we get much reporting, and the situation / death toll is looking worse.

Last quake was at 4.30 AM - no one in city. This one, ealry afternoon - everyone is city.
 
  • #37
StevieTNZ said:
Another earthquake has hit Christchurch, 6.3, 5km deep.

www.nzherald.co.nz

www.stuff.co.nz

for updates. 65 confirmed dead so far. Absolutely shocking. I actually went to ChCh in October last year (my dad and I had originally purchased tickets in March for about $17 one way from Wellington - special deal was going on) and the place I stayed at, reports bodies have been removed from there.

I'm so sorry.

Baruch Dayan Emet.

--


Apeiron... Fuzzy... ROLL CALL!

When I'm worried, it usually means other people are EXTREMELY worried.

Damn it... BE OK you two, and anyone else there.
 
  • #38
nismaratwork said:
I'm so sorry.

Baruch Dayan Emet.

--


Apeiron... Fuzzy... ROLL CALL!

When I'm worried, it usually means other people are EXTREMELY worried.

Damn it... BE OK you two, and anyone else there.

Sorry, I didn't see this sooner. I'm not in NZ, but thanks nismar. I'm very sorry to hear about this and hope aperion is ok, too.
 
  • #40
fuzzyfelt said:
Sorry, I didn't see this sooner. I'm not in NZ, but thanks nismar. I'm very sorry to hear about this and hope aperion is ok, too.

Ahhh... good good.


@Turbo-1: Oh hell...
 
  • #41
It is pretty bad down there. The death has been revised down to 32, but that is surely going to increase.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/8887668/woman-dies-with-baby-in-arms/ - just makes my heart sink.
 
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  • #42
StevieTNZ said:
It is pretty bad down there. The death has been revised down to 32, but that is surely going to increase.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/8887668/woman-dies-with-baby-in-arms/ - just makes my heart sink.

Damn it... where is apeiron...
 
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  • #43
This is very worrying, at this point we need to assume power is out and apeiron can not contact us. This event is really very sad.
 
  • #44
hypatia said:
This is very worrying, at this point we need to assume power is out and apeiron can not contact us. This event is really very sad.

Agreed... seeing this though... oh lord. I really hope that he's OK, but I also hope he hasn't lost friends/family.


The more information that comes out the more it seems CC is devestated.

NZ PM: "This is our darkest day"

Here's to hoping he's too busy helping people to make contact...
 
  • #45
What a stressful day.Our eldest son,his Kiwi partner and our two grandchildren live in Woolston,Christchurch.Our son emigrated from here (London) a few years back.Power was out in Woolston and it was hours before anyone could make contact.Eventually our son was able to give us a call.Thankfully the family is fine.Our hearts go to all the families who are affected.
 
  • #46
Dadface said:
What a stressful day.Our eldest son,his Kiwi partner and our two grandchildren live in Woolston,Christchurch.Our son emigrated from here (London) a few years back.Power was out in Woolston and it was hours before anyone could make contact.Eventually our son was able to give us a call.Thankfully the family is fine.Our hearts go to all the families who are affected.
Wonderful to hear they are safe.
 
  • #47
Dadface said:
What a stressful day.Our eldest son,his Kiwi partner and our two grandchildren live in Woolston,Christchurch.Our son emigrated from here (London) a few years back.Power was out in Woolston and it was hours before anyone could make contact.Eventually our son was able to give us a call.Thankfully the family is fine.Our hearts go to all the families who are affected.

Whew, that's great news!
 
  • #48
Dadface said:
What a stressful day.Our eldest son,his Kiwi partner and our two grandchildren live in Woolston,Christchurch.Our son emigrated from here (London) a few years back.Power was out in Woolston and it was hours before anyone could make contact.Eventually our son was able to give us a call.Thankfully the family is fine.Our hearts go to all the families who are affected.

GOOD... I'm very glad.


Now... apeiron... stop worrying us.
 
  • #49
Astronuc said:
There was major infrastructure damage in Christchurch the closest city to the quake.

Mayor: Quake hit city 'like an iceberg'

Apparently there was a fair amount of looting going on.

The municipal water system has been compromised. Many people will be without drinking water or water for bathing.

I tried to contact a client this afternoon on the outskirts of the city (it was pre-scheduled) and couldn't complete the call. I also sent an email with no response.
 
  • #50
I'm still waiting to hear from folks there. :frown:

The damage this time was much worse than the mag 7 last year.
Saturday, September 04, 2010 at 04:35:46 AM at epicenter
45 km (30 miles) W of Christchurch, New Zealand


The current one hit Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 12:51:43 PM at epicenter
NEAR Christchurch, New Zealand (just 6 mi (10 km) SE of city) toward Lyttelton

Shaking intensity in the city was much greater for this earthquake than the magnitude 7.1 earthquake for any of its other aftershocks. The highest shaking was recorded at Pages Road Pumping Station at 188 %g, with readings of 127 %g at Heathcote Valley Primary School and 107 %g at Hulverstone Road Pumping Station. This is due to the proximity of the epicentre to the city and the shallow depth.
1g of acceleration is considered very significant. Pages Road Pumping Station was near 2g!

Figure shows the ground acceleration. The red squares mean the most severe damage to structures.
http://www.geonet.org.nz/var/storage/images/media/images/news/2011/lyttelton_pga/57159-1-eng-GB/lyttelton_pga.png

Ref: http://www.geonet.org.nz/news/feb-2011-christchurch-badly-damaged-by-magnitude-6-3-earthquake.html (page is periodically updated)
The acceleration at Heathcote Valley Primary School has been revised to 2.20 g!
 
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  • #51
Astronuc said:
I'm still waiting to hear from folks there. :frown:

The damage this time was much worse than the mag 7 last year.
Saturday, September 04, 2010 at 04:35:46 AM at epicenter
45 km (30 miles) W of Christchurch, New Zealand


The current one hit Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 12:51:43 PM at epicenter
NEAR Christchurch, New Zealand (just 6 mi (10 km) SE of city) toward Lyttelton

1g of acceleration is considered very significant. Pages Road Pumping Station was near 2g!

Figure shows the ground acceleration. The red squares mean the most severe damage to structures.
http://www.geonet.org.nz/var/storage/images/media/images/news/2011/lyttelton_pga/57159-1-eng-GB/lyttelton_pga.png

When you hear, please let us know... This is very worrying.
 
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  • #52
Hmmmm, didn't notice this thread picked up again for the recent earthquake. When I read about the quake this morning I remembered the thread from before and PM'd apeiron... no response yet, no ones heard anything huh?
 
  • #53
zomgwtf said:
Hmmmm, didn't notice this thread picked up again for the recent earthquake. When I read about the quake this morning I remembered the thread from before and PM'd apeiron... no response yet, no ones heard anything huh?

No... [URL]http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/sad/sad0020.gif[/URL]
 
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  • #54
I imagine there are power outages and getting on PF is probably low on the importance scale. Hopefully he and his family are ok.
 
  • #55
Evo said:
I imagine there are power outages and getting on PF is probably low on the importance scale. Hopefully he and his family are ok.

80% of the place is without power. Many large buildings damaged, teetering on collapse. 75 confirmed dead, 300 missing. The city is being closed down for the next 3 days at least.

You're right, getting on an internet forum would be a low priority in such circumstances. Let's hope it's that.
 
  • #56
http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/24270574

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110223/ap_on_bi_ge/as_new_zealand_earthquake

It's pretty bad.
 
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  • #57
Evo said:
I imagine there are power outages and getting on PF is probably low on the importance scale. Hopefully he and his family are ok.

I know... it's just worry... if I were there and whole, I'd be trying to help people out of the rubble, not getting on PF.

Still... apeiron isn't my only friend there (just not an online friend). It's never a good feeling to know that we can't expect word soon.
 
  • #58
Thanks for people's concerns. Power has been off so no net access. Plus there is stuff to do. :smile:

Summary is me and mine are basically fine, there will be a few hundred dead, which looking around at the buildings that went, could be considered lucky, and rebuilding sewers, economy, homes, will be something we are still talking about in 5, probably 10 years.

It was incredibly bad luck to get a second shallower and almost right under the city. A mag 6 was expected following a mag 7, the hope was that it would be further away.

Here is the quick update I've been sending friends.

-------------------------

Hi - Family, house and cats all fine. We are in the lucky part of town where the damage is the least. We have water but not yet power. No visible damage at all really in our suburb. But a lot of the town is properly devastated this time round.

I was in the central city at the time and we had one person killed, several trapped, as a fair bit of our historic building collapsed. I was under a desk watching bits of ceiling fall in and bricks from the top floor rain down.

Sandy was at her clinic across town and her problem was that pipes broke, ground liquified, so in minutes her car was swamped and had to be abandoned. She got a lift home from a bus driver who abandoned his route to bring her to the door.

Kids were just finishing lunchbreak, so were safely outside.

The problems now are lack of power (so we have been out of communication with the world - I am typing this from our printing press on the outskirts of town where I can get a powerpoint and internet connection). The sewers are stuffed, so we shouldn't be using toilets (but with water going, most people still are). We have not had to go down to shops as we have a freezer of stuff going off, plus a vast supply of pasta/tinned tomatoes and other earthquake basics. But actually, food and fuel can get into Christchurch pretty easily, so no fear there.

Law and order not a problem, and everyone is helping neighbours. We have been looking after the oldies down our street, who need reassurance as much as anything.

Longer term, the town is looking to be in for a very hard time economically as the central business district looks inoperable for months and the fixing of roads, sewers, electricity will take years (they will be patched up in weeks, but rebuilding will go on a long time).

----------------------
 
  • #59
It must have been terrifying! So glad that you and your family are ok. Do they have an estimate of when you might get power?
 
  • #60
apeiron, glad to hear that you and yours are OK.

When I saw the fist images of the pancaked buildings and collapsed walls, my first thought was that deaths would probably total in the low thousands, not the hundreds. I'm very happy to be wrong on that count.
 

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