[gastabegree]

New Zealand : 7.0 earthquake reduces buildings to rubble in Christchurch

Buildings were reduced to rubble, essential services cut, and there were outbreaks of looting after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck New Zealand’s second largest city.

By Paul Chapman in Wellington
Published: 10:18PM BST 03 Sep 2010



A car passes through fallen rubble after the quake struck in Christchurch Photo: AP



People stand outside a building damaged by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo: AP

The quake, which hit Christchurch, population 386,000, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, was just 7.5 miles deep, which meant it caused widespread damage. Christchurch Hospital said it was inundated with people suffering injuries but there were no reports of any deaths after the quake, which occurred early Saturday morning

No tsunami was reported but several strong aftershocks were being felt in the city and throughout the surrounding Canterbury region. Inspector Al Stewart of Christchurch police said there had been extensive damage, mainly to older buildings which were less able to withstand the shaking, while he also confirmed there had been incidents of looting from shops.

Thousands of homes and businesses were without power, water was cut off, and sewerage pipes were severed. Colleen Simpson, a local resident, said many people ran into the streets after the quake shook them from their beds, afraid of further damage. “Oh my God, there is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me,” she said.

Several people described the scene in the city centre as looking like “a war zone” and spoke of furniture falling over, windows shattering and walls cracking. One witness said the quake came with a “massive roar” and felt like being on a violent rollercoaster. Bob Parker, the city’s mayor, said events had been “pretty traumatic” and he urged people to check on their neighbours.

New Zealand sits on the seismically volatile Pacific Ring of Fire. The country’s largest recorded earthquake since European settlement was one of 8.2 on the Richter scale, which destroyed much of Wellington in 1855. The last fatal earthquake was in 1968 when a 7.1 tremor killed three people on the South Island’s West Coast.

[Doncarlito]

Earthquake of 7.1 magnitude hits New Zealand city

By Gyles Beckford
WELLINGTON | Fri Sep 3, 2010 9:11pm EDT

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A major earthquake hit New Zealand's second biggest city Christchurch early on Saturday, bringing down power lines, ripping up roads and wrecking building facades, but authorities reported no deaths. Authorities declared a formal civil defense state of emergency to coordinate recovery operations in the city, which has a population of about 350,000 people, after facades collapsed into streets, crushing cars and blocking roads.

Two men suffered serious injuries and police closed off the central business district. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 and a depth of 10 kms (6 miles), hitting the South Island city and a large surrounding area of farms at around 4.35 a.m. local time (12:35 p.m. EDT Friday). "There's a lot of damage that I've been able to observe in the central city area, mainly of the old brick and masonry buildings, a number of those have got walls that have fallen into the street," Christchurch mayor Bob Parker told Radio New Zealand.

The city's hospital said two men had been admitted with serious injuries, one hit by a falling chimney and the other cut by glass. It had also treated a few other people with broken bones, cuts and grazes. Police said there were several instances of looting, which had been quickly contained. In the suburbs many houses had broken windows, toppled chimneys, cracked walls and items thrown off shelves.

Power was out over a large area of the city and surrounding region as circuit breakers were tripped at substations, but was being progressively restored after safety checks. Water and sewage services were also disrupted, and there were reports of subsidence in some roads.

RURAL EPICENTRE

Officials were checking how severe the damage was in rural areas, closer to the epicenter, west of the city. Ray O'Donnell, owner of a hotel in Darfield, a small farming community around 20 kms (12 miles) west of Christchurch, said large cracks had appeared in rural roads near the epicenter. GNS Science, the New Zealand government seismological agency, revised its reading of the quake to magnitude 7.1 from an original 7.4.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported it at 7.4 but later revised its figure to 7.0. The city's airport was shut as the runway and facilities were checked, and the railway network and bridges throughout the region were also being checked for damage. The quake was felt as a long rolling motion lasting up to 40 seconds. The area was continuing to feel aftershocks as strong as magnitude 5.2.

"It was a real rocker, and (we're) still getting aftershocks. (It) felt like the house was flying on a whirlwind," Tessa Hay, who lives around 12 km north of the city, told Reuters. Because the quake occurred inland there was no danger of a tsunami. "No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

New Zealand scientists record around 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which around 20 top magnitude 5.0. The last fatal earthquake in the geologically active country, caught between the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, was in 1968 when an earthquake measuring 7.1 killed three people on the South Island's West Coast.

[Doncarlito]

A woman walks over debris from a quake-damaged building in Christchurch September 4, 2010.




People stand near a quake-damaged building in Christchurch September 4, 2010.




Quake-damaged car and building are seen in Christchurch September 4, 2010.

[Doncarlito]

People stand near a damaged building after an earthquake in Christchurch September 4, 2010.




A quake-damaged car is pictured in Christchurch September 4, 2010




A quake-damaged car is pictured in Christchurch September 4, 2010.

[Doncarlito]

People look at a damaged building after an earthquake in Christchurch September 4, 2010.




People walk past a quake-damaged building in Christchurch September 4, 2010.




Damage is seen on a motorway, north of Christchurch September 4, 2010.

[Doncarlito]

A quake-damaged building is pictured in Christchurch September 4, 2010.




Damage from an earthquake is seen in a video frame grab near Christchurch, New Zealand, September 4, 2010.




A car is seen under debris after a major earthquake in Christchurch September 4, 2010. A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit New Zealand, 30 km (20 miles) west of Christchurch early on Saturday morning, causing no immediate reports of casualties but widespread damage, authorities said.

[Doncarlito]

A car is seen under debris after a major earthquake in Christchurch September 4, 2010. A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit New Zealand, 30 km (20 miles) west of Christchurch early on Saturday morning, causing no immediate reports of casualties but widespread damage, authorities said.




Debris lies on a street after a major earthquake in Christchurch September 4, 2010. A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit New Zealand, 30 km (20 miles) west of Christchurch early on Saturday morning, causing no immediate reports of casualties but widespread damage, authorities said.




Debris lies on a street after a major earthquake in Christchurch September 4, 2010. A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit New Zealand, 30 km (20 miles) west of Christchurch early on Saturday morning, causing no immediate reports of casualties but widespread damage, authorities said.

[Emunsesoxmete]

All buildings damaged, wonder what happens if it is in SG

[Afigenatjola]

[MizzDaizzy]

NZ Quake Zone Hit By Aftershocks And Winds

11:47am, Sunday September 05, 2010
Jo Couzens

Strong aftershocks and gale-force winds have hit New Zealand's second largest city - as it recovers from the country's worst earthquake in 80 years.



New Zealand PM John Key (R) and city mayor Bob Parker survey the damage

Christchurch, on the South Island, and a large surrounding area of rural towns and farms were struck by the magnitude 7.1 tremor on Saturday. Roads were ripped up, power lines brought down, water and sewage pipes smashed and buildings wrecked. New Zealand's prime minister John Key has said it is "a miracle" no one was killed and only a few people were injured. Initial estimates for the cost of earthquake damage are around NZ$2bn (£933m). But Mr Key said the Earthquake Commission, a state disaster insurance fund, has sufficient assets to be able to cover claims.



Collapsed building in Christchurch

Some of the city's large public facilities, including major bridges, the airport, university and a sports stadium due to host games at next year's Rugby World Cup, appeared to have suffered only superficial damage. A state of emergency remains in force throughout the region, but a curfew on the badly damaged central business district has been lifted.

"We've got some tough days ahead of us and I'm not optimistic," Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said. Around 500 buildings are estimated to have been damaged, with more than 90 in the centre, the Christchurch City Council said. Aftershocks, the strongest measuring magnitude 5.1, have continued to send loose bricks and masonry crashing into the streets.



Damaged road (Pic: Sarah King)

Winds gusting up to 80mph have also been forecast, raising fears that already weakened buildings could collapse. Nearly 300 people displaced from their homes are staying in emergency centres, and welfare groups have been able to feed around 1,000. Power has been restored to 90% of the region and water to 80% - but the water is still not safe to drink because of contamination from broken sewage pipes.



A fire blazes in a damaged building after the quake

Mr Key said, after a tour of the city, the clean-up and reconstruction operation could take "at least a year". The quake was one of the 10 strongest recorded in New Zealand, which sits between the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, and records around 14,000 earthquakes a year. The last fatal tremor was in 1968 when an earthquake measuring 7.1 killed three people on the South Island's West Coast.

[Xxedxevh]

A damaged car is seen after a major earthquake yesterday in Christchurch September 5, 2010. Strong aftershocks and gale-force winds buffeted a clean-up of New Zealand's second biggest city on Sunday following the country's most damaging earthquake in 80 years.

[Teomaderm]

Aftershocks rattle quake-hit NZ city

WELLINGTON | Mon Sep 6, 2010 5:25am EDT

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Aftershocks rocked New Zealand's second-biggest city on Monday causing further damage and forcing authorities to extend a state of emergency after the country's most damaging earthquake in 80 years. More than 20 aftershocks, the strongest with a magnitude of 4.8, were felt through Monday, sending already loose masonry and bricks in damaged buildings crashing into the streets.

However, despite early estimates of a NZ$2 billion ($1.4 billion) repair bill, financial markets were little affected and followed broader market moves, which pushed the New Zealand dollar higher and debt lower. Prime Minister John Key said as many as 100,000 homes, about two out of every three in the region, may have been damaged to some degree by the magnitude 7.1 quake which struck early on Saturday.

"The above-ground damage is obvious, but it could take some time to understand just how much damage there is to underground infrastructure," Key told a news conference. Power and water supplies have been restored to most of the region, but about 200 people are staying in emergency shelters. The region has been hit by more than 100 aftershocks, the strongest measuring magnitude 5.4, causing more damage and forcing the Christchurch City Council to extend the closure of the central business district until Wednesday.

Quick action was taken to demolish some of the most severely damaged buildings as aftershocks sent debris crashing to the street. "It had to be bulldozed down, they couldn't do anything with it, but it's distressing to see it like that," said Ken Fisk after his barber shop was pulled down.

"CONSIDERABLE DISRUPTION"

The epicenter of the quake was about 20 km (12 miles) to the west of Christchurch, a city of 350,000, which supports the agricultural-based economy of New Zealand's South Island. A seismologist said the quake looked to have been triggered by movement in an unknown fault. "Before Saturday, there was nothing in the landscape that would have suggested there was an active fault beneath these areas," said Kelvin Berryman of GNS Science.

The quake had caused a 22 km (12 mile) long rip in the earth, with fissures of up to 4 meters (12 feet), he said. Key said the government and local authorities had sufficient resources to cover the immediate disruption but the broader economy would suffer. "There will be considerable disruption to both the Canterbury (region) and national economy in the short term due to a loss in activity as people and businesses deal with the aftermath of the quake," Key said reporters.

"But looking a little further out, there should be an increase in activity once reconstruction and repair work kick into full gear." Ratings agency Standard and Poor's said the quake would not affect New Zealand's sovereign rating, but might lead to a one notch downgrade for the Christchurch City Council.

The quake was among the 10 strongest recorded in New Zealand, which sits between the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, and records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which about 20 top magnitude 5.0. It was the most damaging quake in New Zealand since the North Island city of Napier was devastated in 1931. The last fatal quake was in 1968 when an earthquake measuring 7.1 killed three people on the South Island's West Coast. ($1=NZ$1.39)

(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate/Gyles Beckford)

[CFstantony]

A resident walks past damaged shops from yesterday's major earthquake in Christchurch September 5, 2010.




Residents start to clean up after a major earthquake yesterday in Christchurch September 5, 2010.




Residents are seen near a damaged road from yesterday's major earthquake in Christchurch September 5, 2010. Strong aftershocks and gale-force winds buffeted a clean-up of New Zealand's second biggest city on Sunday following the country's most damaging earthquake in 80 years.

[Fededorbprago]

A partially damaged road is seen in this video frame grab near Christchurch, New Zealand, September 4, 2010.




A partially wrecked van is seen in this video frame grab near Christchurch, New Zealand, September 4, 2010.




New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key surveys the damage to buildings in central Christchurch after
a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the city September 4, 2010.

[ErubTiereedig]

Goods are scattered on the floor in a shop in Christchurch after falling from shelves in the earthquake




A 'closed' sign hangs on a shop door obstructed by rubble in Christchurch




A damaged car is seen after the earthquake in Christchurch

[lidya-sggf]

Damaged buildings are demolished by a bulldozer




Workers use a jackhammer to remove dangerous brickwork from a damaged building in Christchurch




A search dog is used to try and find a person reported missing amongst the rubble of a building after Saturday's earthquake
at the corner of St Asaph and Barbadoes Streets in Christchurch

[lidya-sggf]

This photograph taken in Christchurch on September 6, 2010s shows Israel (L) and Miriam Garcia standing with their baby Amelia,
who was born as a powerful 7.0 earthquake struck New Zealand




Historic Deans homestead which was destroyed in Christchurch




Pastor Jenni Carter looks at the damaged interior of the St Johns church in Hororata

[lidya-sggf]

Locals Wade Driver and partner Cheyenne Stevens look at damage to shops on their way to work in the city centre




A taxi crushed by falling bricks sits on Manchester Street in the city centre




Taylor Strowger (10) from Darfield explores earthquake damage to Highfield Road, 30km west of Christchurch

[lidya-sggf]

Children play in a street damaged from Saturday's earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand




A young boy takes advantage of a warped road to skateboard on in Paiapoi, 20km south of Christchurch




Building inspectors look at damaged houses after the earthquake in Christchurch

[lidya-sggf]

A motor bike rider passes a damaged building in New Zealand's second largest city Christchurch



Council workers dig around water pipes to locate damaged areas