Re: Powerful earthquake hits New Zealand?s second largest city - Christchurch
Re: Powerful earthquake hits New Zealand?s second largest city - Christchurch
BREAKING NEWS
State of civil emergency declared after massive earthquake in Christchurch ...
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Huge earthquake rocks Christchurch
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By Press reporters - The Press
Last updated 10:10 04/09/2010
LATEST: A state of emergency has been declared following this morning's 7.1 earthquake in Christchurch.
Search and rescue teams have been deployed around Christchurch to check for trapped people in the rubble of this morning's major earthquake.
Christchurch fire service spokesman Mike Bowden there were a number of people trapped in their houses and other buildings by falling chimneys, jammed doors and blocked entrances.
However, there were no reports of people pinned underneath rubble so far.
Bowden said the station had been flooded with calls but fire services were only responding to "cases of life and death."
Christchurch Hospital is calling for back-up from all off-duty emergency department staff who are able to travel into work safely.
The central business district of Christchurch has been closed to all traffic as police try to keep sightseers and looters from the scene.
Civil Defence has activated its emergency management centres throughout Canterbury in the wake of this morning's massive earthquake.
Civil Defence is concerned that power is expected to be off in Christchurch for much of today, and that cellphone towers currently running on batteries would fail in about an hour, severing communication links.
There is also a looming problem of flooding in New Brighton and Brooklands because storm and sewage pipes under the road have broken.
Residents have been advised to prepare to leave their homes _ but not evacuate yet.
Prime Minister John Key and Civil Defence Minister John Carter will hold a crisis meeting with civil defence officials in the next hour to decide on whether to declare a state of emergency.
One of the biggest earthquakes in recorded history struck Christchurch and the South Island this morning.
The massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit before dawn, causing widespread damage and cutting power.
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Have you been affected by this morning's earthquake? Comment or email us on reporters@press.co.nz with your stories and pictures.
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The quake was centred 30km west of Christchurch and 33m underground. It hit at 4.35am and there have been many reports of damage.
It was felt widely across the South Island, including Christchurch and Timaru, and there have also been reports of the quake being felt as far as Wellington.
Major aftershocks are still continuing. The biggest was felt just before 8am.
People seriously injured
A Christchurch Hospital spokeswoman said a man in his 50s was in a serious condition in the intensive care unit after being hit by a falling chimney.
<script language="javascript"><!--PushHserverAd('STORYBODY', 2, 300, 250, '300x250');//--></script>Another man in his 50s had serious injuries after being cut by glass during the earthquake.
The spokeswoman said a number of people had also been to the hospital with minor injuries, "mainly cuts and bruises but some broken bones".
She said people should not visit Christchurch Hospital unless they needed medical attention for serious injuries.
Minor injuries could be treated at the 24 Hour After Hours Surgery in Bealey Ave and Moorhouse Medical Centre.
Airport, rail lines closed
Air traffic at Christchurch Airport may be suspended for the whole day as it is assessed for damage.
"The airport remains closed until at least 1pm and we are undertaking a survey of the main runway to be 100 per cent sure that the runway will be safe. That's expected to take at least two hours before we get results,'' said Gareth Owen, general manager for marketing and communications for Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL).
"Visually it doesn't look that bad on the runways, for example, but that's what we need to assess.''
Owen said it was imperative people stopped coming to the airport.
"We are getting inundated with people and they will just get turned around. No flights will be leaving until 1pm and it could be a lot later,'' said Owen.
The rail network in the South Island has also been shut down while it is inspected for damage.
Civil Defence activates emergency management centres
Civil Defence said this morning it had activated its emergency management centres in Selwyn, Timaru, Waimakariri, and Hurunui.
"There are power outages across the districts. Residents are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel while damage to buildings and infrastructure is assessed and necessary repairs are made,'' a spokesman said.
Civil Defence is asking residents in those areas not to use their cellphones unless for emergencies.
Civil Defence Minister John Carter described the situation as a ''significant disaster''.
Plans were in place to get milk tankers full of water into the city but the water was likely to be rationed, he said.
Carter said many people were suffering from shock but he urged the public not to flood the hospital with minor injuries. They should instead go to their local 24-hour medical centres.
''The most important thing we can tell anybody at the moment is please don't panic,'' he said.
The army had been informed and was ready to mobilise if needed.
Hospitals operating normally
All Christchurch hospitals are operating and there have been no major injuries reported. However, authorities are urging the public not to come into the hospital except in an emergency.
A hospital spokeswoman said night staff were staying on at work.
Christchurch police report widespread power outages throughout the city.
Major damage reported
Historic Godley House has suffered very serious damage. Owner Richard Hawes said he thought he was going to die as he was on the second floor of the 130-year-old homestead and when it "wobbled like a jelly''. The building now has cracks from the foundation upwards with many windows out and a large hole in a wall.
Press reporters say there has been widespread damage to buildings on the corner of Edgeware Road and Barbados Steet, with rubble lying on the road and properties badly damaged. Power lines are also down on the footpath in the area.
They also report partial blockage in Litchfield St because of damage.
There are cars damaged in Madras St and bridges in Brighton and South Brighton are also damaged, inspector Inspector Malcolm Johnston said power is out around the city and wide spread building damage is being reported.
Christchurch's Avonside Drive has been seriously damaged. The street has been ripped apart and there have been reports of one house lifted off its foundation. It's garage has also collapsed. The residents are understood to be out of town.
The Christchurch suburb of Sydenham has also been hit hard. Many older buildings have been demolished and police cordons are around some of the shops.
Power could be off for much of the day
Power is expected to remain off in parts of Christchurch for much of today.
Orion CEO Roger Sutton said he expected power to be restored to 90 per cent of the city by nightfall. He said the central business district may still not have power tonight.
"We don't want to reliven buildings where there has been significant damage. We need to understand the nature if the danage before we reliven the buildings,'' he said.
Sutton said they would not be able to assess the power loss in rural areas until mid morning. He said power had been lost in areas north to the Waimakariri and south to the Rakaia.
Cellphone towers in Christchurch were currently operating on battery power but this was expected to fail by 9.30am.
Size of earthquake recalibrated to 7.2
GNS spokesman said the size of the earthquake had now been recalibrated down from 7.4 to 7.2, and was centred at Kirwee. He said aftershocks could go on for weeks.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said City Care staff were trying to assess damage and clear roads where they could.
Extra staff were manning a phone line for the public to call in reports of damage 03-941 8999
He urged households to "take sensible precautions'' such as preserving water by not flushing toilets.
Police are investigating reports of looting in Colombo St in central Christchurch.
Southern communications centre inspector John Doherty said police had been told about the looting earlier this morning and had dispatched teams to investigate.
He was yet to get a report back.
Additional police staff had been sent out to patrol the city streets.
Eye witness accounts
Christchurch resident Colleen Simpson said everyone was out in the street in their pyjamas looking scared and worried.
There was no power and the mobile network was failing.
"Oh my God. There is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me," she said.
Simpson and her young family were heading to her sister's house, where there was still power, so everyone could be together.
Press editor and Sumner resident Andrew Holden said chimney builders would be busy in Sumner, with brick chimnies either collapsed or badly shaken.
Cave Rock Bed and Breakfast appeared to have been hardest hit with a portion of the main roof collapsed into an upstairs bedroom.
There was no apparent damage to the main cliff face at either Whitewash Head or Redcliffs.
Kevin O'Hanlon, from Mairehau in Christchurch, said it was unbelievable.
"Just unbelievable. I was awake to go to work and then just heard this massive noise and, boom, it was like the house got hit. It just started shaking. I've never felt anything like it."
In Mid Canterbury, near Mt Hutt, a major 1912 homestead has been utterly destroyed.
William Cottrell, of Glenroy, said his house, Gunyah, had been utterly destroyed.
"You can drive a car through the hole in our roof.''
"Two chimneys fell and demolished the antique 2-poster bed we were in. We were so lucky.''
He said his leg had been crushed under some bricks. "But I can't believe I'm alive.''
The mountain of bricks then crashed through the bedroom floor into the dining room below.
He said the lodge had six guests, who had all left, as there was no power.
Hororata resident Bryan Hall said his home had also lost a chimney and furniture had broken. "There are boooks just everywhere and all the pictures are at peculiar angles.
However, he had managed to light a log fire to boil a kettle for some coffee,
Christchurch Press chief reporter Kamala Hayman said power was out in many southern suburbs.
"The first shake tipped books and glasses off our shelves and we are still getting sizeable aftershocks."
Ryan Shaw, in Christchurch, said "TV fallen off cabinet, books, pot plants everywhere and I'm very shaken."
St Albans woman Marsha Witehira narrowly escaped injury when a friend pulled her from her bed as the wall of her house collapsed.
Witehira was asleep in her bed at the time of the earthquake, while a friend had been sleeping in the lounge.
She said her friend pulled her from the bed as the side of her house started to collapse.
"He saved my life, no doubt about it...if I had been there, I would have smashed my head."
Darfield resident Meg Morten said the earthquake was preceded by a ''huge noise'' that jolted her from her sleep.
''I just heard this huge bang and realised it was an earthquake, so I was out of bed and into a doorway pretty much on autopilot,'' she said.
''It was the biggest earthquake I had ever felt, and we thought maybe this was going to be the really big earthquake. It was pretty frightening.''
There were reports of chimney collapses in Darfield, but no major damage.
Morten was surprised her own home remained intact.
''We could hear glass, but nothing fell off the walls. It's absolutely amazing, given the size of the quake.
''Now it's daylight, people will be getting out and having a look.''
The earthquake appeared to not to have disturbed farm stock, she said.
''Looking out the window, there's lambs and ewes in the paddock and they're just pottering along.
''The cats certainly haven't come back though.''
Morten said aftershocks were still ''rumbling''.
Sir Miles Warren's 150-year-old homestead Ohinetahi at Governor's Bay has been badly damaged. Sir Miles said there was "a tremendous noise'' as stonework smashed down onto the roof but no one was injured.
A 50-metre slip has partially blocked the road between Teddington and Diamond Harbour.
Shelley Richard, a resident of Culver Place and Holderstone Drive, in Dallington, said her entire house had shifted off its foundations. A 5cm gap was now visible between the house and the concrete foundations.
Richard said she could not open any doors inside the house or her garden gate and said it was too dangerous to return home.
She had tried repeatedly to call her insurance firm but had not been able to get through.
Richard said she had picked up her mum from Kate Sheppard rest because it had been closed following the quake.
Residents near Brighton and Dallington were using buckets to get river water for flushing toilets. Others were standing outside a closed supermarket where they had hoped to buy water.
The water swirling around the roads smelled of sewage.:tiphat:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4094979/Huge-earthquake-rocks-Christchurch
