Photo from Geonet - link here.
"A magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at 4:36 am on September 4, the epicentre was 40 km west of Christchurch city, and the depth of the quake was at 10 km."
I have posted about earthquakes in New Zealand before - they are a fact of life here, we all live with the possibility of a major quake happening at any time.
The people of Christchurch are counting their blessings that not one person was killed, there are two people with serious injuries and many minor injuries. An earthquake of this magnitude (similar to the one recently in Haiti) can often cause more destruction and loss of life.
The time of the earthquake meant that most people were at home and many in bed, not on the streets, in the business areas or at workplaces, schools etc. While there has been destruction of homes and other buildings, roads, sewerage systems etc, our very strict building earthquake codes have made many of our buildings in a good position to withstand a good 'shake'and although damaged many are not 'totalled'.
I have several relatives living in Christchurch and thankfully all are safe and well, but one has quite extensive damage to her house. They are all feeling very very nervous with all the aftershocks that are occurring day and night, over thirty in all and some quite strong. (Click on the map above to see the sites of the major shock and all the aftershocks)More information here and here.
4 comments:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/nzealandquake
It has made the news in the U.S.
Although one doesn't normally think of Chicago as being in a quake zone, in fact I have been conscious of infrequent, very small earth quakes here. It's the oddest feeling, I can't imagine what it's like to experience a 7+ magnitude one! Did you experience any sensation from this one?
Chicago's buildings aren't constructed to withstand such a thing, though the city is along the New Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid) fault, which, much farther south and a little west of here, slipped in 1812, re-arranging the route of the Mississippi river. It had little impact on Chicago; our history-changing event was the fire of 1871.
Mother Nature will always have her way, but it's so important that the construction standards in Christchurch are so strict.
Please keep us posted, merinz!
So glad to see this post, and to know that you and yours are safe!!
xoxoxo CGF
Hi Candy and Veronica, thank you for your comments. We are all fine - we are a long way from Christchurch and didn't feel the quake. Christchurch is on the east coast about halfway down the South Island. I live on the East coast of the North Island in Tauranga.
However in a small country like ours most people have friends or family in the South Island and are concerned about them.
Flippin'eck Merinz, didnt even hear about it here never mind in Forida.
Scary stuff!
The get lots of wind and rain but never experienced an earthquake.
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