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

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand
From: Gurney
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 01:59 AM

Saturday at 4pm. 145 confirmed/identified dead. Still around 200 missing, some of which are surely at the morgue awaiting identification.
No-one found alive since Wednesday.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: gnu
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 10:01 AM

Gosh...

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Brian May
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 10:35 AM

Yes, the news is usurped by the prospect of a nutter killing his own people to hang on to power. He loves his people so much, he's stolen billions from them over the years.

I'd much rather hear about the rescue and/or recovery work in Christchurch.

My daughter had a recovery team leader and his family around for a meal and shower yesterday as their house is without water. My thoughts are SO with those teams who have a harrowing task. The authorities and emergency services with volunteers have my deep respect for their efforts and professionalism. As for the looters . . . shoot them summarily, what kind of low-life profits from distress on this scale?

Still no sign of my grand-daughter who is obviously comfortable where she is despite being 10 days overdue . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 03:02 PM

Brian, there is some troubles with communications still. Stems from so many people having cordless phones on their land-lines. So, no power, no phone, despite the phone-lines being OK. A call has gone out for old-fashioned wired phones.

Scammers are advertising for contributions to the ChCh appeal, "please send your credit-card details." Utter arseholes this world produces, along with absolute heroes.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 08:01 PM

Tourist captures quake chaos on camera

CBD amateur footage emerges from NZ quake

posts on social media

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 01:36 AM

Something I found rather poignant - the statue of John Robert Godley, known as the founder of Christchurch, lying on the ground, bent and broken into about 4 pieces.
Here's the statue, the way it was.

Police are now saying it may be impossible to identify some of the bodies that have been burnt in the CTV building - where the language school was.

There's still hope for a miracle - maybe people caught in a pocket within a building, but nothing so far. Just heartbreak.

The adrenalin that kept everyone going for the first few days has started to flag. Many people have just had enough. Lots are leaving or sending their kids away to family far from Canterbury.

Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 02:44 AM

I could see what I thought was a complete statue on the ground but didn't know it was in pieces. thanks for the pic of it in it's glory.

My NZ neighbour was talking to friends today - one had lived in the basement of his damaged house since the first quake,

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 06:50 AM

The statue of Robert Falcon Scott is down too.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 06:54 AM

Here's Scott's statue.

Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Janie
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 10:46 PM

Spent the weekend in West Virginia, (USA), with my ailing and aged parents who follow world news closely and with great empathy. They asked that I post to pass on their care and concern.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 02:27 AM

Thank them for us, Janie.
It has been, and still is, a very bad time for ChCh, two major and several hundreds of minor shakes, in an area that hasn't experienced anything like this in the time since European settlement. There are still about 50 people to find, and the casualties are of more than 20 nationalities, tourists and foreign students as well as locals. Some may never be identified.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: maeve
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:21 AM

Here's another story, this time from a couple from Scarborough, Maine. Grateful Mainers express gratitude- earthquake

While somewhat distracted by our own challenges, TL and I are closely following the reports from New Zealand. May peace and renewed hope be yours.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: gnu
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:10 PM

Good article... thanks, m.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 08:04 PM

amazing survival of those Mainers

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:27 AM

It is hard to believe the mentality of the looters but when the stories of bravery comes through it makes them look the very pathetic lowlifes they are.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:41 AM

There was anothe quake today, 4.5 on the register. They had two minutes silence today, exactly a week after the last big quake, to remember the people who died. Search and rescue efforts continue but no-one has been found alive since Wednesday last week.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 12:49 PM

The final toll is expected to be "about 240 people."
Well over 1000 private homes have been 'red-stickered' as uninhabitable or dangerous.
Everyone is advised to stay off the beaches as they are pumping sewage directly into the sea.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: vectis
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:01 PM

The river outfall behind the southern end of New Brighton is always full of sewage so nothing new here.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 10:16 PM

Good story in the Herald today. One guy whose home was wrecked by a huge boulder rolling down the hill has put it for sale on TradeMe.
He isn't offering to deliver it.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 11:59 PM

Apparently one of the "looters" is actually an autistic lad who is fixated on light fittings. He was just following his instincts but the authorities were not aware of his disability and nabbed him.
I hope he's been rescued from jail.
I'm wondering how the alcoholics are managing, when the pubs are mostly closed. Or smokers who aren't able to access cigarettes.
Death toll currently 160.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 03:19 AM

Quake-hit NZ students offered Aussie places
Hundreds of tertiary students from Christchurch are being offered the chance to study in Australia as the New Zealand city recovers from its devastating earthquake last week.

Adelaide University has announced a plan to take up to 500 students from the University of Canterbury to study in Australia for the current semester. (more)

NZ economy to suffer in wake of earthquake

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 03:45 PM

On the news this morning is that the two buildings CTV and PGB were built on land that is prone to liquifaction. This stuff has been a significant problem in this crisis, oozing up over the paving in thousands of tons, and currently dried out and blowing around. News footage shows most people wearing dust-masks and safety glasses, all over the affected area, not just rescuers in the inner city.
There was a glimpse of a tanker truck spraying water on the TV. Directly behind the anchor man. Bet it got him.

No thanks are enough for the support we have received from around the world. Rescue teams from as far as 11000 miles away are here.
Australia could not be more supportive if NZ was part of their country, with a military field hospital set up in case of epidemics, police officers augmenting ours, and several S&R teams, and the offer from Adeleide University.
Many students are currently shovelling dried-up liquifaction in the suburbs.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 06:05 PM

that rock auction

The comments are hilarious.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 02:16 AM

wonderful - I've sent it along to some lucky friends!

brilliant, tho I didn't read them all or I'd still be reading!

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:01 AM

Sure would, Sandra. There are 126 witticisms awaiting reply....

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: gnu
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:45 AM

Well done! At $7000 & 139 unanswered now. I only read several dozen. Time for a break.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Tangledwood
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:17 PM

Good find Jack, I've passed it on.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 02:52 PM

Better news. The radio news announced that searchers have cleared the cathedral and there are no bodies there. It was feared that there were up to 20 tourists, but it seems that nearly all got out.
Also, I have finally got in touch with John, my pal, and he and his are unhurt, escaping with a few cracks in the house, although he had a worrying time driving home after the initial shock, diverting for impassable obstacles. It was two days before they learned how severely ChCh was hit.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 03:27 PM

The rescue workers have spent all day and half the night carefully clearing out the rubble from the Cathedral, expecting to find about 20 bodies under the bell tower mess and guess what?
Nothing!
No bodies in or around the Cathedral!
I suppose you could call that a miracle????
So, everyone in there must have managed to escape.
Not so lucky in the CTV building because that one caught fire and anyone inside was already squashed down into the ground. That's where the International students were and the local TV station workers too. That hunt is continuing but unless there's a pocket of safety down below in there, most bodies will be mangled and burnt. Very hard to identify.
Many families have shifted out of Christchurch, taking their kids, who were becoming traumatised, to a new town or city, moving in with family elsewhere for a break or just relocating forever. Schools in other towns have suddenly enrolled hundreds of new kids.
But other people who don't have somewhere else to go (mainly the poorer families) are just stuck in suburbs with no power, water or toilets still and with no income and very few supermarkets within reach. Thousands of people have lost their jobs - their place of work ruined. Builders, plumbers and electricians will be OK - plenty of work for them once the clean-up is over.
The Salvation Army and other groups are bringing in food and water and a few individuals who have spring water on their land are sharing it with the neighbors. The residents are all pulling together and helping anyone who needs help. And volunteers from all around the country are going down to help sort things out and give the locals a break.
Things will come right but the face of Christchurch is changed forever.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Brian May
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:53 AM

I'm glad to say that at about 1700, my daughter gave birth to a healthy and complete little daughter in Christchurch's Womens' Hospital.

The staff were wonderful, considering what they've all been through these last two weeks (in particular).

That is SUCH good news about the Cathedral.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:04 AM

congratulations to the parent & proud grandparents.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:06 AM

parent? what about the other parent??

I'll start again -
congratulations to the parents & proud grandparents.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 01:38 PM

Congratulations.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: gnu
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 03:16 PM

Congrats!

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 06:28 PM

The recovery work in the CTV building is now complete but there's no mention yet of the number of bodies from in there.
Parts of the city are being reopened so that people can get into their homes or workplaces, to check the damage and retrieve important stuff.
But the centre of the city is still closed off.
They had another 7 aftershocks last night, between 7 and 11pm, some over mag.4, so there's still a chance of buildings coming down.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 06:38 AM

Christchurch residents return to broken city

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:09 PM

An interesting link from Sandra's post shows before and after pictures.
Fascinating!
On the news this morning someone says the Port Hills have risen 40 cm!!! (That's about 16 inches if you don't think in metrics.)
But the plains seem to have sunk a little.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:29 PM

166 people are known and identified dead this morning, they no longer tell us how many others are unidentified. Some may never be properly identified.

Bright side, about 60% of ChCh is undamaged or has trivial damage.

Sandra's link above, ABC News, contains the term 'fortnight.' I've never heard Americans use the word, an abbreviation of 'fourteen nights.'

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 10:10 PM

The rock went for $50,000! All proceeds to the fund, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 01:05 AM

is the winner taking it away?

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Gurney
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 02:09 PM

No idea, Sandra. Might as well blow it up in situ, I suppose, I don't know if the house is going to be pulled down anyway as unsafe, as some on that area are, where the ground that they stood on has gone away, or the rocks above threaten.

Maybe not. The ad said to take it away "being careful of our neighbours.'
The last-minute bid jumped $40,000.....

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: gnu
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:08 PM

$50k! Good stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: vectis
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:36 PM

The company that bought it are planning to load it on a low loader and plant it in their car park.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 11:46 PM

Rocky is even on facebook (why am I shocked? everyone except me is there)

Re Facebook - go to the search box and type in "Rocky ChCh", you will see a bunch of fan pages..the official page is "Rocky - Fictional Character" - he also has by far the most fans.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 11:54 PM

NZ quake boulder raises $44,000 for charity (converted to Oz dollar)

second highest bidder is also giving her bid to charity

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 07:38 PM

what people are building while the sewerage services are not available
This website has been set up to showcase all the creative Long Drops that are popping up around Christchurch. There are over 100 Long Drops already.

a New Zealand term for a pit toilet or outhouse

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 12:38 PM

Christchurch.... "5.2-magnitude quake struck during lunchtime; just over an hour later, a 6.0"

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Jun 11 - 12:21 PM

"...a 9month-old baby who was crushed under a falling television set."

You know, when all is said and done, there is no excuse for allowing that to happen.

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 07:45 PM

One year on: "What it means to live in Christchurch"

And the aftershocks are still happening.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Another bad quake in N.Zealand (22 Feb 2011)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 07:58 PM

The memorial service, one year on.

Robyn