christchurch earthquake

Christchurch hit by an earthquake

How often do we need reminders that we are not really in control of everything . Any sense of having too much control over the power that is within the Earth has left us here in Christchurch today.Yet another earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand this afternoon. It rolled and rolled,  as people fought to stay upright against its massive power. 6.3 in magnitude , it was shallow, but just 5km down in the Earth . It felt like it was right underneath you and it was massive, long and the noise of buildings falling is never going to go away - imprinted on the memory for ever. Duststorms swirled through the central city as buildings fell to the ground. Fires started, and continued to burn as helicopters attacked them with monsoon buckets from the air. Smaller in magnitude but much shallower and closer to the heart of the city than the big 7.1 in September last year this one was much more devastating

 Christchurch is a charming, beautiful city, easy going and proud of its gardens, its parks and its beautiful clean water. Designed half a world away by the leading designers and radicals of the time in England, it centres around parks in the central city and a grid design street system. Even its streets were named 12,000 miles away in England at the time of its design.
But this afternoon we have seen the River Avon run grey and menacing, the roads split and full of deep cuts and troughs, massive liquefaction causing water to run from residential driveways and creating whirlpools in the central city, huge waterways where once were streets, houses opened like dollshouses with their sides ripped away, and massive commercial buildings flattened like packs of cards. Just crumpling. With no respect for the fact that they were modern and earthquake compliant. Or that they had survived the earlier quakes so in tact.
Over the last 6 months the depth and magnitude of earthquakes has become second nature to most Christchurch people as they have gone through the 7.1 earthquake on September 4^th last year and more than 4000 after shocks since. So they knew immediately this was no aftershock.
This is a city tonight that barely dares to take a breath. Since the lunchtime first quake there has been one aftershock after another. Many people are still trapped in buildings as the central city is cordoned off. And the thought that is so scary is that people are still trapped. Under desks,and some are texting . One was even interviewed on television by cell phone as she was still trapped in the building. The job of finding them is huge.
 The army who were passing through the port of Lyttelton quite fortuitously en route to a training exercise in Timaru are here in force. And international assistance is en route.
 It’s raining tonight-very heavily. Big fat raindrops and everyone has buckets and pots outside to collect it because there is no water in the taps any longer and that water looks clean and good. And it’s cold. The first cold night in ages. It is summer here. The city is full of visitors- over for the Floral festival and also because this is the peak time for visitors. Buses have been crushed by falling debris. The Cathedral which dominates the central Square is smashed. The old Provincial Council Chambers-one of the most beautiful buildings in a city that prides its heritage buildings is wrecked.
The central park, Hagley Park, is full of people tonight  in a tent that was to be part of the City’s annual Garden display. Hagley Park, which is massive, is almost completely liquefied –grey, slippery and the silt and sand has burst through the well mown grass.
The whole thing has changed colour. Centres are all over town offering food and shelter because people had no way of getting home. Phone lines jammed and so many people went through hours of waiting to find family and friends.
The damage through the central city and in many of the suburbs is massive. The shocks roll in one after another with that same ominous noise. There’s been 6 in the last 20 minutes.
But mostly as a city we know there are people waiting for rescue, and we know that there are families whose lives have been wrecked for ever. And we know that a day that started as any other Tuesday , the first day back at Uni for many, has killed many , and terrified most , and still holds others trapped in the dark of the night.
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