Christchurch New Zealand 6.3 Earthquake 2.21.2011 Multiple Deaths

[SuziQ]

As you probably know, it also makes a difference the frequency at which the earthquake vibrates and the consistency of some soils.

After the Northridge quake in L.A. (1993, I think), entire neighborhoods near us were decimated. We lost a single electric candle that fell off the mantlepiece. The difference was the vibration frequency and the type of soil on which our house sat.

Wow that's lucky. I grew up in the valley and remember the 71' quake very well. I moved before the Northridge quake. My friends still there had their cars bounce sideways in their garages and had a heck of a time getting them out. Earthquakes scare the heck out of me. I was really disappointed when I found out I moved to a #3 city on an earthquake risk list.

ETA: the amount of liquifaction is amazing in this quake.

 

[SuziQ]

Christchurch's Rolleston prison will be cleared to create beds for the influx of rescuers into the city following yesterday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake.
Corrections Minister Judith Collins said the prisoners would be moved to the higher security Christchurch Mens' prison, emptying 320 beds for rescuers. The rescue teams now include 200 police from Australia on top of their specialist search and rescue team.
In a further bid to make room in the city the Air Force was today ferrying tourists and out-of-towners from Christchurch to Wellington and Auckland to clear hotel rooms and other accommodation for rescuers.
The rescue teams were being flown to Christchurch on the return leg. Hundreds of people were expected to use the flights today.

More at link:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708225

 

[SuziQ]

Christchurch: Then and now

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=116929#7381709

 

[LadyL]

let me preface this by saying I know nothing about earthquakes and I'm not intending to cast blame and my heart goes out to all the victims

but is there ever any advance notice with earthquakes like there is with hurricanes or do they just kinda happen randomly?

 

[Nancy2441]

let me preface this by saying I know nothing about earthquakes and I'm not intending to cast blame and my heart goes out to all the victims

but is there ever any advance notice with earthquakes like there is with hurricanes or do they just kinda happen randomly?

Having lived in Southern California all my life and experiencing many earthquakes, they just happen with no advance notice. The only exception to that is once a major one hits you can experience many, many aftershocks in the first few days after.

 

[SuziQ]

let me preface this by saying I know nothing about earthquakes and I'm not intending to cast blame and my heart goes out to all the victims

but is there ever any advance notice with earthquakes like there is with hurricanes or do they just kinda happen randomly?

Scientists have been trying to predict quakes with no success. MOO. Some people believe in earthquake weather. Unseasonably warm, dead quiet, no birds, no wind whatsoever. I think that has been proven not to be true. Animals can feel and sense an earthquake before humans do. But it hits by the time you figure out what your pet is freaking out about.

[video=youtube;1MFzcl-kZHo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MFzcl-kZHo[/video]

 

[kirsty]

85 confirmed dead and 300 still missing

 

[mommy23]

let me preface this by saying I know nothing about earthquakes and I'm not intending to cast blame and my heart goes out to all the victims

but is there ever any advance notice with earthquakes like there is with hurricanes or do they just kinda happen randomly?

It is a definate surprise. Scientists study and monitor always, but it really is unpredictable. There is no season for it, there is at best minutes warning.... Absolutely one of the most unknown amazing phenomonoms (sp lol) of our earth. You just never know. New fault lines are being discovered all the time! And they terrify me.

 

[SuziQ]

Police have abandoned all hope of finding survivors at the collapsed Canterbury TV building in central Christchurch.
Inspector Dave Lawry said he was "100 per cent" certain those trapped in the building, including a non-sworn police staff member and a group of overseas students, were dead.
All emergency personnel have been moved away from the building because of danger the unstable Grand Chancellor Hotel would collapse onto it, he said.

He felt particularly sorry for the family of what is believed to be a group of Japanese students who died inside.

More at link:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708252

 

[hollyblue]

It is a definate surprise. Scientists study and monitor always, but it really is unpredictable. There is no season for it, there is at best minutes warning.... Absolutely one of the most unknown amazing phenomonoms (sp lol) of our earth. You just never know. New fault lines are being discovered all the time! And they terrify me.

This region has been so hard hit with natural disaster lately. Flood, fires, hurricane and more flooding. Now an earthquake. How tragic for these people. Prayer to all.

Below at link is a chart of the tectonic plates....if you look in the lower right corner you can see where the Australian and Pacific plates meet---going right thru NZ.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/plate.html

 

[kirsty]

This region has been so hard hit with natural disaster lately. Flood, fires, hurricane and more flooding. Now an earthquake. How tragic for these people. Prayer to all.

Below at link is a chart of the tectonic plates....if you look in the lower right corner you can see where the Australian and Pacific plates meet---going right thru NZ.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/plate.html

Thanks for that link now I really am nervous!

By the way, the floods, fire & hurricane all happened in Australia, Christchurch had an earthquake in september last year, and ever since had been having aftershocks until a couple of days ago. It sounds like someone is trying to get rid of Christchurch It has been common knowledge that the capital (where I live - Wellington) is way over due of the 'big one' its either still coming or it went down south instead. The death toll is rising and rising.

 

[Nova]

It is a definate surprise. Scientists study and monitor always, but it really is unpredictable. There is no season for it, there is at best minutes warning.... Absolutely one of the most unknown amazing phenomonoms (sp lol) of our earth. You just never know. New fault lines are being discovered all the time! And they terrify me.

By "minutes warning," do you mean to scientists sitting at seismographs? Because after 25 years in California, I've never yet heard a warning of a specific temblor. (Of course, there are the general warnings that the San Andreas, for example, is overdue for a major shift. But nothing that tells the individual when to expect the shaking to start.)

BTW, as someone who grew up in South Florida with hurricanes, but has spent his adult life in Southern California, let me add that hurricanes at least afford one the illusion of control. (And in some cases, such the areas below sea level during Katrina, it really is an illusion.) You can board up your windows, evacuate, etc.

Major earthquakes feel like the entire planet is suddenly running amok without warning.

 

[SuziQ]

There are now 92 bodies in a temporary morgue set up by police in Christchurch, Prime Minister John Key says.
Mr Key told Prime News the death toll has gone up since earlier today and is likely to rise further.
"This is an earthquake that has really shaken Canterbury to its core."
Hopes of finding survivors in the rubble of quake-ravaged Christchurch are fading as the second day following the devastating quake draws to a close.

Police say 76 bodies have been recovered and taken to a temporary morgue, but that number is expected to rise considerably. The list of missing stands at 238.
This evening, police are expected to release a list of the names of some of those killed and the number of missing people they have serious concerns for.
No one has been rescued the rubble of the ruined city since yesterday.

More at link:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708496

 

[ThoughtFox]

The aftershocks have slowed down at least:

Earthquake List:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/175_-45_eqs.php

Map: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/degree10/175_-45.php

Of course with that type of damage, even a micro-quake could make something else fall. So tragic!

 

[LadyL]

This region has been so hard hit with natural disaster lately. Flood, fires, hurricane and more flooding. Now an earthquake. How tragic for these people. Prayer to all.

Below at link is a chart of the tectonic plates....if you look in the lower right corner you can see where the Australian and Pacific plates meet---going right thru NZ.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/plate.html

really interesting (and frightening)

thanks for that link

 

[LadyL]

what do they mean by depth (in kilometers)

I`ve been reading the links but I need a layperson`s explanation

does it mean that`s how far down the `crack`(for lack of a better term) goes

please forgive my ignorance

 

[kirsty]

Earthqake was 5k's down - so not that deep.

Death toll now: 98 with 226 still missing

 

[kirsty]

They have started naming the dead

Joseph Tehau Pohio, 40-year-old ChCh man

Jamie Robert McDowell-Gilbert, 22yo

Jayden Harris, 9mth old baby

Baxter Gowland, 5 month old baby

 

[Flakes]

Terrible times in the Southern Hemisphere. My heart goes out to all my Kiwi neighbours. After our floods and cyclones in Australia (still continuing this week) the last thing we wanted to see was you guys having it tough too. It's heartbreaking!

Hang in there *advertiser censored*

 

[Redwood146]

I live in a little city in the North Island in New Zealand..... and find it so difficult to believe this has happened... and its so hard to see that there has been no one pulled out alive today in spite of the brave efforts of the rescue teams