Christchurch Earthquake

[John McGillivray]

Reports of fatalities in New Zealand quake
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories...hquake-110221/

CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Mon. Feb. 21 2011 9:25 PM ET
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch, causing an unknown number of deaths and destroying several buildings.
Footage showed broken bricks and concrete littering cracked sidewalks, as hundreds of people sought help. The force of the quake destroyed a church in the centre of the city.
Todd Niall, of Radio New Zealand, said police had reported several deaths.
"All we can confirm on the fatality front is that police are reporting that in several locations across the city, there have been multiple fatalities," he told CTV News Channel by phone.
"For example, some of the incidents they are dealing with are a couple of buses that were crushed by falling buildings. We're also seeing people still climbing out of the rubble of some quite modern-looking buildings, as well as some older brick buildings, which had collapsed in some cases on cars. So there is going to be a significant toll from this quake, much more so than the one last September which occurred earlier on a weekend morning."
The government called an emergency cabinet meeting and Prime Minister John Key was expected to fly to Christchurch to assess the devastation.
Councilman Barry Corbett, who works on the top floor of the city council building, said many buildings had been completely reduced to rubble.
"When the shaking had stopped I looked out of the window, which gives a great view onto Christchurch, and there was just dust," he said. "It was evident straight away that a lot of buildings had gone."
The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, said the force of the quake threw him across his office.
"I got down onto the street and there were scenes of great confusion, a lot of very upset people," he said. "I know of people in our building who are injured and I've had some reports of serious injuries throughout the city."
The quake also knocked out power to the city and broke water pipes, flooding streets.
The tremor hit five kilometres from the city at a depth of four kilometres, and created a 5.6-magnitude aftershock.
Christchurch has a population of about 350,000 people. The city has suffered hundreds of aftershocks since a 7.1-magnitude quake struck last September, but that quake caused no deaths.
"The first one happened early in the morning on a weekend when everyone was tucked up in bed, but this one happened in the middle of a busy summer lunch hour," said Niall.
"Buildings that came through the first quake relatively unscathed, some of them are severely damaged this time around."
With files from The Associated Press

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

Reports of fatalities in New Zealand quake
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories...hquake-110221/
CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Mon. Feb. 21 2011 9:25 PM ET
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch, causing an unknown number of deaths and destroying several buildings.
...
The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, said the force of the quake threw him across his office.
...
With files from The Associated Press

I thought that was what indignant voters did.

It is on the news here on the other side of the planet. Let's hope for good news out of this. Kiwis have had a rough ride from Mother Nature the last year.

[hrpearce]

When I came in for lunch the news was on and it's still on. My prayers are with our NZ friends.

[Lynn Eades]

Although a 6.3 quake, this was centred only 5 km down. and so has done massive damage. Unlike september, there are multiple fatalities, at a number of sites.
The Christchurch Cathedral, a famous landmark, is this time "all but destroyed". In september, it came though unscathed.
Initial death toll 65 so far.

[lynx42]

Lynn,
I'm sure that I speak for all MLU members and pass our sympathies and prayers to those in Christchurch and New Zealand as a whole.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, as yours were recently with the floods and fires in Australia.

Chin up,
Rick.

[Howard]

Our thoughts are with our Kiwi brothers & sisters... Take care all of you and we hope above hope that your families and friends are safe.
The Holgates

[Lynn Eades]

Unfortunately where ever we live on the planet, our lives are challenged by the elements. You Canadians learn to live with fires and cold, you Australians usually live with the threat of bush fires, but have just been hammered by cyclones, and flooding. New Zealand is a country of moderation, but we live on the pacific rim and as such we live with volcanic activity and earth quakes. Earthquakes happen here every day, most of them we don't notice.
Today Christchurch copped a big one. Today my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones for no good reason, other than they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They are getting a bad deal down there.