4:35am September 4th 2010. One of the biggest days in NZ history! The whole of the country shook - and it really did shake! A 7.1 magnitude eathquake, 10km deep and 20k outside Christchurch City. People all over the country woke up - Everyone in Christchurch certainly did, as their houses moved vigourasly for probably 40 seconds. The most sureal experience of our life! Over $4 billion worth of damage, people's homes no longer livable, buildings and roads split in two, cracks everywhere.....but a MIRACLE that nobody was killed! So grateful to God that it was at 4:35am - peak sleep time. Gratfeul for the NZ building codes. Grateful for the stories of many who made quick escapes. Even grateful for the experience, as it brings a fresh mindset or mortality and what's really important in life.
Our experience was both being woken up in bed by the house starting to shake. Realising it was an earthquake and not having experienced anything like we were feeling at that time, we ran under the bedroom door frame. It just got worse after that as we held each other and struggled to stand up. It was pitch black, as the electricity had gone and we were scared! (to put it mildly) It was amazing the house was still standing after all the shaking! When it stopped (although it continued to roll for quite a while) we prayed, found our torches, then went outside and talked to a few neighbours who were already on the streets. We knocked on a few peoples doors to make sure they were OK, spent the morning at one of our neighbours listening to their radio & police band-radio - in shock! At daylight we could see only minor damage on our house; cracks on inside walls, cracks in the garage, a few contents smashed or damaged, but thankful everything else ok. Here's a video of our after earthqauke experience:
It isn't just the 7.1 earthquake that had an effect. It's the aftershocks too - over 1500 in the first month and still counting! Being woken up every night for the first week and still being shaken up for quakes that still shake the house, sometimes magnitude 5 or above! Over the next few days we found out about the effects it has had on the rest of the City and surrounding areas. Many people have had to move house, older buildings in the city centre have been damaged badly, some of which already been demolished. Soil liquefaction occured throughout the city, as silt/sandy type material, came from the earth up through cracks onto road, lawns and into homes! A state of emergency was called, a curfew imposed on the night, as looting was happening. Many left the city, as aftershocks had an ongoing physological effect and schools and many businesses were closed for a week or so. Buildings are given a green, yellow or red sticker, according to their stability and the governments Earthquake Commission is going through the 100,000 claims lodged within the first month.
For videos of the actual eathquake (not much as everyone asleep), click on these links:
Shop Security Camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn5rlQRYztQ
TVNZ Report of the earthquake:
Here are some photos we took:
Went for a walk on Sat morning -someone lost both sides of their house!
Local Petrol Station seen better days...
On a bit of a lean...
Shops at the end of our street - eventually fully demolished.
At the local park
James' office (no it doesn't usually look like that!)
