Christchurch Earthquake 22/2/11

[Lily]

Julia Gillard now speaking about the quake expressing her sorrow and says there are very distressing scenes on the TV today. She says the NZ Fire Service are reporting "multiple fatalities", NZ Airforce has been called in. Water, electricity and phone services severely disrupted and people using cars to transport injured people due to no more ambulances being available.

She says anything we (Australia) have got that they need, Australia will send to them. They have requested a search and rescue team which we are sending and Australia will continue to assist in the emergency response as needed.

Australian Women's Cricket Team, who have been training in Christchurch, are all safe. No reports at this stage of Australian fatalities. Australians wishing to check on safety of family in NZ are encouraged to call the DFAT number 1300 555 135, three Australian consular officials are on the ground.

[Lily]

http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/

Update: 3.50pm Tuesday 22nd February 2011
Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by canterburyearthquake| Comments Off
Situation Updates:

Christchurch hospital is operational, with only one ward damaged
Christchurch airport is open for emergencies only closed, closed for domestic pending an inspection of the runway.
Civil Defence Director John Hamilton says the National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington has established communications with the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group in Christchurch, and is still working on communications with Christchurch City Civil Defence.
People in the affected area should:

Expect aftershocks. Each time one is felt, drop, cover, and hold on.
Check yourself first for injuries and get first aid if necessary before helping injured or trapped persons.
Assess your home or workplace for damage. If the building appears unsafe get everyone out. Use the stairs, not an elevator and when outside, watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines. Stay out of damaged areas.
Look for and extinguish small fires if safe to do so. Fire is a significant hazard following earthquakes.
Listen to the radio for updated emergency information and instructions.
Do not overload the phone lines with non-emergency calls.
Help people who require special assistance – infants, elderly people, those without transportation, large families who may need additional help, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.

[Lily]

List of quakes/aftershocks in the area today alone, aftershocks are substantial, another one just occurred at 5.0 (Source: http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/qua ... uakes.html )

Recent New Zealand Earthquakes
This is a list of the latest thirty New Zealand earthquakes.



Reference Number: 3468672
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 4:04 pm
Magnitude: 5.0
Depth: 12 km
Details: Within 5 km of Christchurch


Reference Number: 3468666
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 3:48 pm
Magnitude: 4.5
Depth: 5 km
Details: 10 km south-west of Christchurch


Reference Number: 3468635
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 2:50 pm
Magnitude: 5.5
Depth: 5 km
Details: Within 5 km of Lyttelton


Reference Number: 3468630
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 2:39 pm
Magnitude: 4.0
Depth: 8 km
Details: 10 km north-east of Lyttelton


Reference Number: 3468631
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 2:37 pm
Magnitude: 3.4
Depth: 5 km
Details: 30 km south-east of Christchurch


Reference Number: 3468608
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 1:46 pm
Magnitude: 4.4
Depth: 5 km
Details: 10 km east of Lyttelton


Reference Number: 3468595
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 1:21 pm
Magnitude: 4.5
Depth: 5 km
Details: 10 km east of Diamond Harbour


Reference Number: 3468581
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 1:04 pm
Magnitude: 5.7
Depth: 6 km
Details: 10 km south of Christchurch


Reference Number: 3468575
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 12:51 pm
Magnitude: 6.3
Depth: 5 km
Details: 10 km south-east of Christchurch


Reference Number: 3468510
NZDT: Tue, Feb 22 2011 9:16 am
Magnitude: 3.1
Depth: 3 km
Details: 10 km south of Christchurch

[rikjpool]

All i've been able to find so far from someone thats been in contact over there for 15sec before the phone cut...

"Oma and Ann *my grandma* were with Grace in the convention centre but they got out just before the roof collapsed that's all we know so far"

[Meso]

Terrible situation. Hope your Grandmother is alright, Rikki.

[Lily]

Rikki, the doctor interviewed earlier, Marnie, that I posted about was at the Convention Centre when it occurred. Hope you hear some more news soon, do you know where she was staying? I believe the airport is closed, in fact I've read that all airspace has been frozen but how accurate that is I don't know (social media not always 100% reliable).

[Karl Lijnders]

Rik, tweeting, facebooking and emailing for you!! This is just so so so scary. If there is anything more I can do, you know how to get me!!

Praying!!!!! Awful time!!

[rikjpool]

Thanks heaps Karl.

If you need propper info, her name is Anne Hutten.

[Lily]

Animated Christchurch quake map for today showing areas that they occurred and areas affected. As you watch, you see that the quakes today have all been between only 3km to 12km depth, very shallow.

http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/today

[Karl Lijnders]

Just emailed DFAT on your behalf Rikki, will let you know as soon as I hear anything, but with the situation as is, it is going to be some time I reckon.

[rikjpool]

We have reports that she is ok, and someone is heading there from Dunedin to pick them up if they can get to them. Unsure of their situation and if they are ok health wise, but they are alive...

Thanks heaps for all the help people.

Update:
We have just had a phone call that they are in Hagley Park in Christchurch awaiting their ride and they are all ok, bit shaken up, but seem to be fine.

It is taking approx 3 hours to travel 10km from one side of the cite to the other because of debris.

[Karl Lijnders]

Oh thank God!!!

I will revoke my email to DFAT and let them know as well.

[rikjpool]

Oh thank God!!!

I will revoke my email to DFAT and let them know as well.

Thank you Karl. You have no idea how much it means to have someone truley concerned about someone outside of their family doing as much as you are doing... thank you.

Was wondering, what is causeing the "liquidation" im seeing on the news?

[daviescr]

Was wondering, what is causeing the "liquidation" im seeing on the news?

This is what they mean Rikki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_liquefaction

Thank God you have had some positive news as well.

[Meso]

Good news

[Lily]

So glad to hear all is well, Rik, that's such a relief for you all

Just moving this thread to International Weather where I should have put it in the first place, my apologies everyone, just wasn't sure where to put it when I first started it.

[Lily]

65 deaths have been confirmed by the Prime Minister John Key, more are expected.

There's no words

[Onetahuti]

I have lived in Christchurch, the TV images are as if I still did, my prayers are with all there

[Onetahuti]

I have lived in Christchurch, the TV images are as if I still did, my prayers are with all there

Just called friend in Christchurch suburb of New Brighton, he and family are ok House messy but standing, near neighbours homes destroyed

[Jake Smethurst]

I am glad there is some positive news coming out of this ... that's good news about your grandma Rik, and good news about your friends Onetahuti.

This is just utter devastation, and I would urge anyone watching the live pictures to be aware that some of the images are very graphic. I got quite a surprise on one of them.

As Lily mentioned, a lot of buildings were damaged in the September quake, and this one has just toppled them over, plus this was quite shallow, not very deep.

A sad day for NZ, hope they pull out of this ok. Will be putting in a special mention for prayer at school tomorrow about this.