Christchurch NZ Earthquake

[Julia]

You would think so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_magnitude_scale

I imagine it is an uncomfortable sleepless and scary night for the residents of Christchurch, wondering if another big one is on the way.



Lets hope the worst has passed for all their sakes.

It will be a horrible night, with undoubtedly many more to come. Hundreds of people will be spending a cold night with no shelter in Hagley Park, their only comfort being that they are out in the open rather than close to buildings.

And what if "they" could "guess" that there was the likelihood of an earthquake in Christchurch, what could they do about it. Everyone living on a major faultline knows that sooner or later there will be a major temblor. In San Francisco it's not a matter of if, but when, and no one knows. The seismologists can only "guess."

Apart from abandoning the city all the residents can do is what they do in Japan...build earthquake resistant buildings.

Exactly.
You simply cannot evacuate a whole city just in case one of the tremors turns into another big earthquake. Where would all the people go, for god's sake? It's not like being able to direct 340,000 people into an earthquake safe shelter, even if such an edifice were able to be built.

To be honest, I find this sort of criticism insensitive right now to say the least.
I have no idea whether my family and friends are alive or not, and to have people nitpicking about size of tremors and predictability of earthquake just ***** me off.

 

[white_crane]

Best wishes to all those affected by the quake in Christchurch.

I hope everything is well with your friends and family Julia. Take care.

white_crane

 

[Julia]

Many thanks, White Crane. How is everything now for you up there?
probably still a way to go, I expect.

 

[white_crane]

Thanks for your concern Julia.

My area managed to escape the absolute worst (just), but some houses were badly damaged and there was extensive damage to vegetation and electricity supply networks. I've had power for about a week now myself. The chainsaws are still running hot around the district though cleaning up all the trees and Ergon still has some power to reconnect.


P.S. You probably have this number already, but there is a contact number for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which you can ring for information regarding Australians in Christchurch - 1300 555 135.

Best wishes
white_crane

 

[sails]

I've been unable to contact any of my family or friends in Christchurch.
Power is out so hopefully the phone lines are affected and they're all actually OK.
So very sad to see the spire of the iconic Christchurch Cathedral, the city's defining landmark, in rubble.

Julia, do trust your family and friends are OK in Christchurch. It would be a worrying time for you not being able to make contact. I heard on TV that phone lines are out and they are requesting people not to use mobiles as the mobile networks are overloaded.

Just so sad to see the devastation there. Please let us know when you hear from your family and friends over there...

 

[Julia]

Thanks, white crane, for the DFAT no. Tried it this afternoon but it seems to be just applicable to Australians on holiday in NZ.
I've since read in several places that the phone lines are pretty much all down in Christchurch, so am hopeful everyone is actually OK.

Goodness, only to have got power back on a week ago for you. Must have been really tough. Glad to know you escaped the worst, but obviously it has still been and continues to be pretty devastating. Let's hope this summer is not replicated for some many years to come.

 

[Tink]

Very sad to hear about another earthquake in Christchurch, hope your family and friends are all OK Julia.
Two in six months is alot to deal with.

Good to see you back in the forum and safe white crane

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

It is unbelievable, I was there recently, such lovely people, their lives and a city destroyed.

gg

 

[nunthewiser]

Hope all is well with WayneL

 

[wayneL]

Hope all is well with WayneL

We're a long way from the quake Nun.

Good in the sense that we're all ok.

Bad in the sense that there is nothing we can do do help.

The poor bastards have nearly six months of the ground moving about under their feet and then this one... and probably many months of further aftershocks to come. It's not just the devastation, basic amenities such as water, electricity and sewage (people have been asked not to flush toilets) are non-existent in large parts of the city.

I don't know how much footage they are showing over there, but we're getting a fair bit of up close and personal footage here... The macro picture is alarming enough, but down on a level with individuals, it is heartbreaking.

Then there is the possibility it can happen again soon...

 

[ghotib]

We're still getting coverage from NZ stations and also feeling horrified and helpless. Glad you're OK Wayne.

Ghoti

 

[awg]

There would be primal fear residing within the citizens to enter buildings

All these reports, tremor everyone jumps under their desk

I would want a tubular moly-steel framed desk, similar to motor racing roll-cage

would seriously increase survival rate ?

If I was a Canterburian, and worked in a masonry building..I would fabricate one for myself..or move to another place.


Looking at the geography and from prior media reports, it seems they have a really big problem making buildings capable of withstanding major shocks, due to soil characteristics, making certain areas subject to liquefacation.

My knowledge of engineering indicates that they cannot safely or practically build in those identified areas

 

[Knobby22]

There would be primal fear residing within the citizens to enter buildings

Looking at the geography and from prior media reports, it seems they have a really big problem making buildings capable of withstanding major shocks, due to soil characteristics, making certain areas subject to liquefacation.

My knowledge of engineering indicates that they cannot safely or practically build in those identified areas

I heard on the radio that the buildings are quake proof designed for an acceleration coefficient of 0.4 but this quake being so close to the surface had an acceleration coefficient of 1. I believe it is very hard to quake proof a building for these circumstances.

I saw a rep from Christchurch yesterday in the morning. I spoke to a competitor who saw him a bit later and he said that he told him the bad news and he rang his wife but no one answered the phone. Hope all is OK.

What can you say except good wishes?

 

[Julia]

I spoke to a competitor who saw him a bit later and he said that he told him the bad news and he rang his wife but no one answered the phone. Hope all is OK.

What can you say except good wishes?

There's nothing you can say or do, Knobby, but I know that all the messages of support and good wishes from here do help those that are trying to cope.

Don't be unduly worried because of no one answering phones. The phone service is patchy at best.
I finally had a message from a family member this morning and they are all safe.

One house is under water in the Eastern suburbs where the ground water and soil apparently just erupted and swamped the whole suburb.

Another's house, up on the hill, is reduced to nothing. They were unable to save anything but their lives.

The others' homes are habitable, though without power or water, so at least they have shelter.

She said "I can't describe the horror. We are in total fear with every further shock".

Although I'm an Australian citizen now, this city will always hold my heart. Just seeing so many heritage buildings destroyed, especially much of the Cathedral, is just awful. Thank you to all of you who have expressed your concern for the people of Christchurch.

 

[awg]

I heard on the radio that the buildings are quake proof designed for an acceleration coefficient of 0.4 but this quake being so close to the surface had an acceleration coefficient of 1. I believe it is very hard to quake proof a building for these circumstances.

I finally had a message from a family member this morning and they are all safe.

One house is under water in the Eastern suburbs where the ground water and soil apparently just erupted and swamped the whole suburb.

That must be a great relief Julia, my good mate just heard this morn his entire family were not yet in Canterbury as he thought (still at sea)


it is possible to use building methods that will resist very violent shaking, although it is expensive. I heard Canterburys new buildings meet the standard, not sure since when built though

The problem with liquefacation is that the building will actually sink in to the ground to some extent, you really cant build stuff their except by driving many piles deep into the soil, essentially to bedrock, (like bridges, the Taj Mahal, Venice ) instead of conventional footings, foundations or slabs.

think you will find geo-tech engineers will dissallow building in some areas, unless using the appropriate method, they would be uninsurable, and the council would have liability if a permit gets issued.

Sure I once read about some city in West Indies ?, some centuries ago, that had mass liquefication, wasnt good at all

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I like Kiwis. they are a strong mob, especially in the South Island, and will recover and rebuild.

gg

 

[Solly]

Moments after the quake, the massive energy that was released.

Although I've never been there, Pennie travels there every year on business, she is just speechless, knows the CBD like home and always stays on Cashel St.
Julia, I understand that words cannot describe your feelings.

 

[OldFart]

1st all of the flooding going on in Aussie, now an earthquake in NZ....I truly feel for you guys down under, and I hope all of you well.

OldFart

 

[Kimberly]

Julia, I'm glad your family are all ok (I never realised you were a Kiwi - freaky!).

The Australian Govt has been amazing!!!!

 

[Calliope]

I have been very impressed by the performance of Christchurch mayor Bob Parker as well the other city officials who have updated us on TV.

Instead of lining up like zombies, as our officials did behind Bligh, these guys are capable of speaking their own minds and giving opinions and advice.