BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)

Subject: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 08:33 PM

Sadly, the 2nd major quake in 5 months near Christchurch

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 08:58 PM

Early reports say that there is more devastation than the earlier 'quake, because although this was 'only' 6.3, it was closer and shallower, and it happened at lunchtime, not early in the morning. The news is full of pictures of broken buildings, fallen masonry burying cars and 'buses, buildings that were repairable from earlier are now destroyed, and the spire of the beautiful cathedral is down.

Four confirmed reports of fatalities so far, but we are only an hour into it. It would surprise me if that was all, considering the devastation. Phones and cellphones down, water, power, sewerage out, the airport closed.
People are behaving as you would expect, leaving the central city as ordered, some wandering in shock, some trying to dig the trapped people out, but the debris needs equipment to move, and this is 'Downtown.'

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: DebC
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 09:21 PM

I hope Little Robyn and family are okay, though I know they are near Hastings.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 09:36 PM

Oh no. How awful.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 11:33 PM

We're all fine - nowhere near Canterbury. Thank you for thinking of us Deb.
My brother left his home in Kaiapoi and shifted up to Palmerston North just before Christmas.
However, we do have friends - folkies who live there.
I just hope they're all OK.
I heard there were two buses crushed under falling buildings.
The news people are saying multiple fatalities.
It sounds terrible - worse than the first one because it was closer to the city centre and happened at lunchtime.
Oh, dear.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 11:41 PM

photos

story & links to others

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:19 AM

One official report was that this shake was from another fault, not the one before, although both are very near Christchurch. The city centre contains many buildings from the victorian era, many of which are severely damaged. Even some structures that were built quite recently are destroyed. There is one building on fire, they are unsure if it is entirely evacuated.
The city is gridlocked. All city ambulances are in use, but more are needed and are coming from all over. Police cars are being used as makeshift ambulances. The military are on the job.
The main hospital is fully operational, hospitals around the country are sending non-essential-surgery patients home so that they can take the overflow, even as far away as Auckland.
At least 17 people are known to be dead, according to the news. One building alone has about 30 people trapped, under their desks.
Help has been offered, from America, and I'm sure also from Australia.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:24 AM

65 dead in the latest update. More expected.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: GUEST,Ana
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:34 AM

It's just horrible - I'm gutted. Selfish to celebrate that family are alive when 100s are still missing. Folkies are doing an internet headcount. Have a clearer picture in 24 hours. Starting to get dark now.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Brian May
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:40 AM

My daughter lives in Lincoln, just south of Christchurch and just west of this epicentre.

Fortunately I've got the message that they're all OK and the house is undamaged. I'm supposed to be there on Friday . . . They've no power, water is disrupted, but SAFE.

It makes you realise what is important in life . . . the rest is trivia.

Best of luck to all those involved, and the rescue services. Sounds like they're on the ball.

Brian

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:41 AM

NZ folkies have heard from friends including Libby Stuart.
We think Libby and Davy are OK but their house is a mess. Davy Stuart is a well known musician and instrument maker. His web site is here.

Lindsey Shields is ok, making her way out of the square - she works in the information centre in the Cathedral.

We haven't yet heard from Dave Hart, Russ Gillies, Jane Edmed (used to be Hart), Denny Stanway and Jimmy Young and several others.

It looks as though one folk venue, Harbour Lights has gone, along with a number of other buildings in Lyttleton.

There's a girl Ann Voss, on telly at the moment who is trapped under her desk and talking to the news people on her phone. She's waiting to be rescued - she has phoned her family to say goodbye.....

Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:56 AM

Just heard
Denny, Gracie and Jimmy are OK, but really upset
and Dave Hart is fine.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:20 AM

Terrible. Very sorry to hear about this. Thoughts are with everybody in New Zealand.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: My guru always said
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:20 AM

Awful news, hoping that the worst is over. Sending positive thoughts.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: mouldy
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:31 AM

There must have been so much property weakened by the last quake too...I so hope you all find your friends and family safe.

Thoughts and prayers are with you. What more can one say at the moment?

Andrea

Subject: Earthquake New Zealand
From: skarpi
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 03:47 AM

I just saw this , are there any mudcatters there ??
but my thougts are with the people ..wish we could do someting
all the best Skarpi

Subject: RE: Earthquake New Zealand
From: gnu
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 03:58 AM

Here is a short article.

Subject: RE: Earthquake New Zealand
From: gnu
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:00 AM

I put that link on the thread from last fall.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: mouldy
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:21 AM

Just spoken to my son in Wellington. He knows somebody who is trapped: an American guy who stayed a couple of days (along with his partner) with them last week.
Apparently this was, like the last one, not on the major fault, although it is a known one this time. He says the real danger now is from the aftershocks. It seems that Christchurch was still experiencing them from the September quake, and buildings are so weak. Apparently there is a massive chunk of a glacier that has fallen as well.

He also says that as a GIS officer for the council, he might be brought down to Christchurch to help co-ordinate the plans (mapping type stuff) for the work ahead. Unfortunately they are down to only 4 people in his office, so they will have to make sure they don't leave Wellington without enough support, should something similar happen there. The civil defence bunker was cracked in the last quake, so that probably isn't in use, so he's not sure what is going on yet. He's quite prepared to go, but says he may yet not be sent.

I hope that everybody is accounted for here.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Earthquake New Zealand
From: gnu
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:34 AM

Oops... see... BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand

Subject: RE: Earthquake New Zealand
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:50 AM

blicky for NZ earthquake thread

check out Little Robyn's posts re safety of folkies

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:58 AM

our radio folks were interviewing a woman in Christchurch who spoke about the time it took to contact her parents at home & her husband in his office.

The mobile/cell network was down for quite a while & after she established contact it took forever to drive home due to many damaged roads. She experienced one of the aftershocks while driving & saw the car ahead stop in the middle of a roundabout & the shocked look on the driver's face, which she knew was the same as the look on her face.

interactive quake map check out the fault line

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 05:00 AM

click on the 43 quakes listed on the right side to see each details of each one.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: SylviaN
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 05:09 AM

All our thoughts are with those in NZ and their families.

Sylvia & Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: scouse
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 08:30 AM

My heart goes out to all those mixed up in this terrible tragedy.. Good healing thoughts from here in The Netherlands.
As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 11:33 AM

Like many others on the Mudcat, I'm sure, I am reading and thinking and commiserating but basically speechless.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 11:44 AM

Speechless here, too, Ebbie, filled with tears. May all be found, quickly and alive.

Christchurch looks like such a beautiful city and the old cathedral...so sad, but of course it's the people who matter the most.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Brian May
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:09 PM

For anyone (like me) who needs to monitor what's going on geologically:

http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz

Try that and you can see what is happening where at what magnitude, my family are in Lincoln which is too close for comfort.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:41 PM

6:30am here. The fatalities figure has been revised downwards, the 65 reported by the government is currently inaccurate, and 32 is now quoted by the Civil Defence. This includes a 9month-old baby who was crushed under a falling television set.
Work has continued throughout the night. It is raining. All services are disrupted, but cellphone coverage seems to be working again, trapped people are reporting in. Portaloos being rushed to the area, water tankers, generators, food. The airport is up-and-running, emergency traffic only at the moment.
Help coming from specialist teams around the Pacific. Japan was among the first to offer, and there are more than 20 Japanese citizens trapped, language students.
Must contact John Jones, 'Professor Fiddlesticks' as my son knows him.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: gnu
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:23 PM

Ditto what Ebbie said.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:48 PM

The Ellerslie Flower Show (similar to Chelsea) was being organised under huge waterproof tents - very handy. They are now accommodating evacuees, many of whom are tourists from the hotels in the centre of the city. And special flights are being offered to take these people to another city so they can go home if they wish.
The worst carnage is in the CBD, some people who had been working in the collapsed offices but lots more in cars or on the footpaths, under the collapsed buildings. Rescue workers are concentrated there.
The situation is described as "bleak". Trapped people are still phoning to say they're OK but stuck and rescuers are trying to get to them but it's a slow process. At least the overnight rain has eased.
In the surrounding suburbs some roads are broken, others are covered in water and people are being told to "Stay Home!" For at least 3 days.
There are trucks delivering water to distribution points - 80% of the city has no water and power is still out.
Other roads - the main ones in to Christchurch, are full of vehicles leaving. Someone described it as "peak hour traffic" and some have said they're not coming back!
Why would you?
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:52 PM

The official fatality number of 32 dead is only based on those identified (now 38). There are many unidentified in the temporary morgue as well as still trapped under rubble in cars and buildings. The focus must remain on retrieving the living. As the rescuers have said - they aren't here to gather statistics. Realistically the toll is likely to be hundreds. The injured are many.
Watching it unfold is like watching one of those computer graphic'd disaster programmes. It seems very unreal - but not if you happen to be living there. Christchurch was a beautiful city.
The epicentre was nearby Lyttleton - not 'built-up' like Christchurch, it's a small heritage town and access has become problematic. News is slow coming out, but it's thought that 60% of buildings have had catastrophic collapse. Aftershocks continue, and more large are expected.
My rellies are safe, but like many - still waiting to hear of friends. We are all so helpless. It's desolation.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 03:28 PM

Rescue teams are in transit from America, Japan, Singapore, and Britain. At least those. A team from Australia is already in NZ, another in transit.

The Prime Minister of Australia declares unlimited support. "Anything you need!"
More than 20 aftershocks over 4 so far.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: skarpi
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:29 PM

I am sure our rescue team who went to Haiti would come also , but I think you are a little to far ..but who knows ...

thoughts are with the people .....
I live in earthquake land with Ice and fire , but we don´t build
house with Bricks , our house are build to get out of 9.0 magnitute
earthquake but that does not mean that we are save, but last year we had 6,5 on C ,,and some house got damage
but they where old houses build before we change the buildings .

I pray for those who are hurt both in mind and body .

all the best Skarpi Iceland

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 08:41 PM

Thank you, Skarpi. Most of the destroyed buildings were designed in the earlier days of settlement, and built using English practice.
Not all of them, though.
One of the sites has been temporarily abandoned, as the remaining people are judged to have been asphyxiated by smoke.

The apparent fluctuation of the fatality figures has been explained by the Prime Minister talking of bodies found (he says something over 70 now) and the Civil Defence talking of identified people known to have been killed.
A team from Taiwan is also on its way here.
I've been out sick-visiting and am not up with the latest news. More later.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Janie
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 08:58 PM

Not selfish, Ana. One can feel joy and relief that loved ones are safe and at the same time ache with fear and grief for others.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 01:32 AM

I pray for those who are hurt both in mind and body . Skarpi

One can feel joy and relief that loved ones are safe and at the same time ache with fear and grief for others. Janie

Oh, yes.

It also occurs to me that cell phones (mobiles) are worth their weight in gold.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:08 AM

Gurney said:
Most of the destroyed buildings were designed in the earlier days of settlement, and built using English practice.

My Gr,gr,grandfather and his brothers, the Henwood brothers from Wadebridge, Cornwall were builders in stone and they took their skills to Canterbury in 1856.
Horatio Henwood, the youngest brother, was Clerk of Works for several years and was involved in building the Prison at Addington and other important buildings at that time. He lived in Lyttelton, James was in Christchurch and John Henwood, my 2xgreat grandfather had his family at Kaiapoi. Both James and John helped with some of the buildings, which would have been the best they knew how to make in those days.
I don't think they ever experienced an earthquake - my Mum always said Wellington had earthquakes but not Canterbury.
We lived in Wellington - we always had lots of smallish quakes and our house was a wooden one that would sway uncomfortably, but safely.
No-one expected this. They still can't believe it.
Lots have been pulled out in the last 24 hours, but others have gone quiet.
Too sad.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: mouldy
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:36 AM

My heart is aching for you all. New Zealanders are made of amazing stuff, and will be very pragmatic and stoic about the whole thing, but there must be such anguish within.

I had planned, before my house move, to visit NZ around now for my Granddaughter's birthday on March 13th, and I was going to visit Christchurch first, and then tour the South Island for a bit.

Be assured that a hell of a lot of people are holding you all in our (virtual) arms.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: My guru always said
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:49 AM

Thinking of those who are lost and those left behind. Just dreadful.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 05:40 AM

This is dreadful news, my heart goes out to the people caught up in this disaster. Hugs to all X

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 01:59 PM

No more people pulled out overnight but they know there are still people alive under some buildings.
There are 71 bodies in morgues but there are others they know of but still have to collect - the effort has been towards the living and those that are dead will wait.
Many of the tourists have been evacuated but there's a group of Japanese students who came here to learn English and their Language school was in the building that caught fire. It's possible they may still be alive but toxic fumes, smoke, fire and the collapsed building suggest that's unlikely. The building housed the Canterbury TV studios (the local station, CTV, not the main Television network) and there are still many workers from there who haven't been found yet. Family and friends are keeping vigil.
In the wider part of Christchurch, supermarkets and petrol stations are starting to open up again and water is being brought in by tankers. Still no electricity in some places but it's slowly coming back to life.
Water that isn't bottled needs to be boiled first, to avoid disease but if you don't have any way to cook, you're in trouble!
There's a young man on radio right now - Sam Johnson, who has organised a 'student volunteer army', using Facebook, to help where needed (but not in the middle of the city - only the official rescuers are allowed in there at the moment). He had a group working last time - students who were unable to continue their study so they helped in practical ways. Good lad!
There are lots of positive stories coming out.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:00 PM

71 known to be dead, 300 missing, more than 130 serious injuries.
The missing may not be trapped, of course, but some may simply have gone away as they were initially told to.
Rescue teams from other countries have relieved the exhausted locals. The site that was abandoned is still afire, still threatened by a 25story building shakily hanging over it, but the Japanese team is working on it. Body recovery, not rescue, say the authorities. It is going to be a bad one. There was a language school there.

It will likely be a month before sewage and water infrastructure is anything like repaired. The broken sewers, helped by the broken water-mains, have flooded many streets and homes. There are vehicles half buried where the liquids have brought the silt over the surface. ChCh is on an alluvial plain.
Flights out as fast as they can go, in military and civilian 'planes, foreign embassy staff replacing abandoned travel documents.
It is going as well as you could expect, but it's a horrible situation.
No-one is going hungry. Locals have rallied around, HMNZS Canterbury was in port and is supplying food non-stop.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:07 PM

This just in from an NZ Folk member:

It looks like the RNZ Sound Archives are not sound.
Here's a message from staffmember, Marie O'Connell:

I am okay! To be graphic and in shock still, I had just had a pee, washed
my hands (as good people do) and opened the loo door on the ground floor. I
got thrown against the door and hit my head, saw some stars as I saw the
stairwell crack open whilst clinging to the door. I yelled help a LOT and
heard rumbling but it was the people in my building running down the stairs
and finally we all managed to get out thru the imploded front door. The
historic Methodist church across from us was demolished and the dirt in the
air was incredible. Still, I managed to light the cigarette! Addiction and
terror is an incredible thing.

We then had another huge aftershock and everyone in the street dropped to
the cracked tarmac, then the liquifaction just rose up at an amazing rate
and stench and the last I saw was the bottom of our building filling with
water and sh*t.

I am now safe at my sister's place, 40km from the city plus my dog is here
after being saved by my niece and I just know Sound Archives is in a VERY
bad way.

Thanks all for your concern and wishes.
Marie and Jack xo

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 12:00 AM

92 dead. 'Grave fear for another 200.'
At the CTV building, where the search was abandoned and then restarted with Japanese rescuers, only 'about 5' bodies were brought out today. There are thought to be 125 or so in there. No signs of life reported in there.
In the suburbs, liquifaction, the bringing of silt to the surface, has caused some houses to sink noticably.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 01:58 PM

Only bodies removed since yesterday afternoon. Things are looking grim for all the students who were attending the international language school. Rescues are turning into recoveries.
All folkies/friends that we have heard from are OK physically but their houses are not so good.
Lots of others are just leaving town. The radio is playing "Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again......"
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: vectis
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 07:08 PM

Thanks for letting us know the names of folkies who are safe. Very relieved to know that Dave Hart is OK.
My family is all safe in North Island thank goodness.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 04:55 AM

A very good friend's daughter and s-i-l work in the area (but are safe). Relief for them, but not good for so many others.

I'm watching all those aftershocks on the map linked above (I think it's fascinating), and how they're accumulating in one area - and getting shallower, too, on average. I'm not a geologist, but I did interpret aerial photos for a living once upon a time.

It looks to me like something is trying to reach the surface on the edge of the flooded caldera near Lyttleton.

It might just be a fault, but I don't think I'd want to be anywhere near whatever-it-is when it does!

Paws

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Little Robyn
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 03:59 PM

There was another biggish aftershock just a couple of hours ago - 4.1 this time but there were several slightly less overnight.
Still no more survivers.
Lots of statistics being produced -
123 confirmed dead
Many in hospital - 164 serious, 11 in IC
They believe there are people from 20 different countries - many at the language school but also others who were just being tourists in Cathedral Square. Some people were seen up in the lookout/bell tower in the Cathedral and others inside or just nearby when the spire and half the tower came down. It's still too unsafe for workers to get inside and start digging but they think there are 22 people still in there. The rescue dogs haven't found anyone alive.
There are still over 200 missing but some of those may have already left the area - lots have been evacuated to Wellington, Auckland or other places and many families have jumped in their cars and driven away.
About 30% of the CBD has been or will need to be demolished.
About 60% of the CBD is badly damaged but can be saved.
100,000 homes without sewerage.
1,000 Portaloos are being delivered and 5,000 chemical toilets have been distributed.
An enterprising kiwi bloke has started making outdoor loos for people in his area - a wooden box with a toilet seat attached and his mate is digging the deep hole for it to be placed over, in the back garden. Then it's up to the household to arrange some sort of privacy/shelter around it. Back to the days of dunnys and longdrops!
Help is arriving from all around the world - Interpol, a Japanese rescue team, firemen from everywhere, police teams from Australia as well.
The original rescuers have been able to catch some sleep now.
The Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, is giving TV and radio interviews, giving an excellent picture of what is happening. But then, before he got into politics, Bob was a really good TV reporter and newsreader. He says this is like an iceberg - 10% can be seen but the other 90% is happening unseen - the scale is immense! The restoration of services is crucial.
Meanwhile, teams of students, groups of farmers and others are out there this morning, digging up all the mud and sand that covers roads and properties in the suburbs.
I work at Hohepa Homes, a farming community with handcraft studios, as well as the school for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, here in Hawke's Bay - hundreds of miles and a whole island away from the earthquake zone. But there is a branch of Hohepa in Canterbury and some of our staff have gone down to help, to relieve the staff there, to look after any residents that are traumatised and to assess the damage to the homes and farm. I believe they have sent many of the residents home, especially if they are from out of town but there are still about 20 who are high needs, who need special care.
It's Saturday morning here in NZ but in Canterbury nobody is having a relaxing weekend! No sports either.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: DebC
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 04:07 PM

The news out of NZ is being usurped by Libya and our own political issues here in the USA. Still, my thoughts are with the victims in and near Canterbury and thank you for the updates.

Big hugs,
Debra