Re: Powerful earthquake hits New Zealand?s second largest city - Christchurch
Re: Powerful earthquake hits New Zealand?s second largest city - Christchurch
Latest news: Christchurch earthquake
9:10 PM Saturday Sep 4, 2010
21.10pm
Some scientists are investigating whether the 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck Christchurch and its surrounding communities today was actually two or three shocks in quick succession.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) in Golden, Colorado, has said that scientists are still trying to reconstruct the way today's quake played out.
"We think that this is a very complex event," said geophysicist Paul
Caruso. "We think that the main shock may have consisted actually of three earthquakes."
GNS Science in Wellington - which changed its initial calculations of a 7.4 magnitude shake 30km west of Christchurch to a 7.1 shake 40 km west - said it could not confirm the mechanisms of the earthquake.
20.05pm
Severe winds predicted across Canterbury could see more building collapses following today's powerful earthquake, says WeatherWatch.co.nz.
With numerous buildings badly damaged, strong gusts could see more brick walls and roofs come down, according to analyst Philip Duncan.
"People should spend Sunday preparing for more possible powercuts. Stock up on batteries and ensure you have torches."
19.30pm
Power has now been restored to 90 per cent of urban Christchurch and 80 per cent of the rural network.
Meanwhile, crews are working to restore rail links to Christchurch from the south so supplies can be delivered.
KiwiRail chief executive Jim Quinn told One News there were plans to bring in almost 300,000 litres of drinking water from Temuka later tonight.
19.00pm
Gas is once again safe to use, local supplier Contact Energy says.
However, people should check the gas lines to their house, ensure that gas bottles are standing upright and hobs are in working order.
18.45pm
All Selwyn residents are being asked to conserve water, particularly those in Rolleston, as the Rolleston water supply is contaminated.
Christchurch City Council has warned retailers and building owners with concerns about the structural integrity of their buildings not to enter them.
18.10pm
Prime Minister John Key says it is a "miracle" that nobody died in today's earthquake.
He told One News the cost of the damage was likely to be in the billions.
18.05pm
One of New Zealand's oldest schools, Christ's College, has suffered earthquake damage.
Spokeswoman Jane Leese says there is minor damage to some of the older buildings and some chimneys have fallen off onto the dining hall below.
18.00pm
ANZ has announced a $1 million donation to support Canterbury residents and businesses in the aftermath of today's earthquake.
Acting chief executive Steven Fyfe said in addition to the $1 million donation to the proposed Mayoral Relief Fund, the ANZ and National Banks will also offer a special package of assistance for personal and business customers impacted by the earthquake.
An appeal account for people to donate to the proposed relief fund will be set up once details of the fund are finalised by the Christchurch City Council.
As part of the package of support for affected customers, ANZ and the National Bank will:
- suspend repayments on all loans for three months
- waive fees associated with restructuring business loans considered necessary due to earthquake impacts
- waive early withdrawal costs for term deposits
- consider temporary adjustments to customer lending limits including credit cards
17.50pm
Cantabrians are being urged not to drive unless absolutely necessary as officials try to gauge the damage caused to roads in this morning's earthquake.
Initial inspections showed the region's highways appeared to have held up well, but it could be several weeks before the full extent of any damage was known, NZTA spokesman Peter Connors said.
State Highway 77 between Methven and Windwhistle is the only state highway currently closed due to earthquake damage.
17.40pm
A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules is currently enroute to Christchurch carrying 42 search and rescue (USAR) personnel and three dogs.
Two Iroquois helicopters from No. 3 Squadron at Ohakea have also been tasked to assist in Christchurch.
They will be available to undertake aerial reconnaissance and damage assessment as required by Civil Defence.
17.35pm
The largest aftershock yet has been felt in Canterbury.
The 5.4 magnitude jolt was centred 10 km southwest of Darfield at a depth of 10 km.
17.25pm
Fonterra says it has four tankers loaded with water at Clandeboye ready to go if required.
Although its Plains site had sustained some superficial damage and some farmers without power were unable to milk, it did not expect any impact on production.
17.20
Telecom says its services are working well in the South Island following today's earthquake.
It says its 111 services are fully available and fixed line infrastructure is performing well, as are both Telecom mobile networks.
17.08pm
The Salvation Army has
launched an appeal to help feed and support those affected by today's quake.
"People will be in shock, some have lost possessions and housing, and many will need food and comfort," Salvation Army national fundraising coordinator Major Robbie Ross said.
The Salvation Army fed about 1000 people at two Christchurch locations early this morning, he said.
Civil Defence urged people in the greater Christchurch area to ensure they had plans before nightfall.
"If your chimney is damaged and/or you feel unsafe in your home, can you camp at a neighbour's or a relation's for the night?" Civil Defence duty manager John Talbot said.
"It's important people make a plan before it gets dark."
17.05pm
Power has been restored to 77 per cent of Christchurch city and is still expected to be restored to 90 per cent or more by tonight.
Rural areas in central Canterbury are largely out of power as a result of downed poles or lines.
Wigram airport is not currently operating.
17.00pm
Welfare centres for those who need shelter have been opened at Linwood High School, Burnside Welfare Centre and Addington Raceway Centre.
Canterbury police will be supported by 80 officers flying in from Auckland this evening to assist with general duties and recovery.
There is a formal curfew in the CBD between 7pm and 7am.
It is likely the army will be called in to assist with the cleanup.
16.32pm
BJ's Massage Parlour in the CBD, on the corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets, burst into flames this afternoon but has been brought under control.
The fire is believed to have been caused by a surge as gas and power supply was turned back on.
Newstalk ZB reporter Lesley Murdoch is at the scene and says smoke is pouring out of the building.
16.02pm
Residents in Christchurch's central district are to be evacuated this afternoon due to the risk from falling masonry, according to Radio New Zealand.
Search and rescue dogs are also being used following reports of people trapped under rubble but so far have not located anyone.
15.55
Radio New Zealand reports that the historic Empire Hotel on London St in Lyttelton was badly hit by the quake and is considered very unstable.
District chief fire officer Mark Buckley said the hotel's facade, thought to weigh 20 tonnes, was hanging by a thread.
15.42pm
Today's 7.1 magnitude quake west of Christchurch
may have occurred on a "new" fault line.
Geologists have not yet been able to link it to a known fault; in the past few years, researchers have found that Canterbury is riddled with more earthquake-generating fault zones than previously thought - some as close as 20km to central Christchurch.
Canterbury University scientists have said there are about 100 fault lines and fault segments around the region, rather than the half-dozen active faults that were known about 20 years ago.
The closest known faults to Christchurch capable of generating powerful quakes are in the Rangiora-Cust area, near Hororata, and near Darfield.
15.40pm
AMI Stadium has suffered only minor damage, Rugby NZ 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden says.
"The very preliminary assessment is that there's no structural damage there, that there's a heap of minor breakages and what not, but no structural damage," Mr Snedden told NZPA.
Mr Snedden said the quake had come just days after Rugby NZ 2011 had looked specifically at how such a situation would be handled if it were to arise during the tournament.
15.35pm
Power is now back on to around 70 per cent of Christchurch.
However, residents are being warned to be extremely careful around low lying power lines in the aftermath of this morning's earthquake.
Orion chief executive Roger Sutton says people must treat them as live and stay away from them at all times.
Tremors are still occurring regularly, many of which have registered over four or five on the Richter scale.
15.22pm
Two Red Cross emergency management teams comprised of 21 people are in action in Canterbury.
Four emergency staff and volunteers trained in light rescue, casualty handling, first aid and welfare are using 4WD vehicles to look for people cut off in the countryside west of Christchurch, near the epicentre of the earthquake.
Two members of the Red Cross Wanganui Response Team have also been deployed to Christchurch and more volunteers from Nelson and Blenheim are on standby.
A portable repeater station has been established on the Port Hills to provide VHF communications as electricity and landlines are not dependable.
14.55pm
Police say Christchurch CBD will be closed until tomorrow while assessment of damaged buildings is carried out.
No businesses or licensed premises will be open and only innercity residents will be allowed in.
Police will man cordons throughout the night.
The area affected is contained within the Montreal Street, Kilmore Street, Madras Street and St Asaph Street area.
A state of emergency in Christchurch city, Selwyn and Waimakariri Districts is likely to be in place until noon Monday, according to Environment Canterbury.
14.50pm
The University of Canterbury and Lincoln University are currently closed while their campuses are assessed for health and safety issues, and will not reopen until Monday September 13.
In a statement, the University of Canterbury said confirmation of its re-opening would be made no later than 5pm on Wednesday September 8. All students, including post-graduate students should stay off campus.
However, there will be no change to the final exam timetable.
Check the
university website for information and updates.
14.45pm
Christchurch's after hours surgeries are reporting a steady numbers of patients but say they are coping well.
Hillmorton and The Princess Margaret Hospitals have been told that the main power supply will be running again in the next few hours.
Both the Lincoln Maternity Hospital and Burwood Birthing Unit will be closed until further notice.
Women who were intending to birth at either should go to Christchurch Women's Hospital. Women affected by the changes are being contacted along with lead maternity carers and staff at the closed units.
Christchurch Hospital is fully staffed and functioning well. District Health Board communications manager Michele Hider said the number of cardiology admissions had been higher than normal.
A neurosurgeon told Radio New Zealand most patients' injuries were minor, including lacerations and minor head trauma.
14.22pm
Power is being restored to Christchurch area by area.
The network was not badly damaged but power was cut as a precaution.
Electricity should be returned to about 90 per cent of Christchurch by the end of the day.
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671050
I don't know how dairy farms will be coping, hopefully their power supplies will have been a priority.
