Christchurch: a great city, a tragic tragic day

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Filed under: Christchurch, Disasters, Earthquakes, New Zealand

64 comments

Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island, has been struck by a second major earthquake in six months. Full coverage with live updates and streaming video is available here

Damage from a rockfall on the city's edge; the damaged Christhurch Cathedral

At this stage, damage appears far worse – and there are certainly more casualties, including fatalities – than the 7.1 magnitude September 2010 quake, even though this one was “only” magnitude 6.3.

Phone lines to Christchurch are currently working, but extremely congested. Emergency services are asking that people only ring the area for emergency purposes, so you’ll excuse us for failing to get immediate on-the-ground comment.

For now, we’d invite you to shout out a message of support to all Kiwis and others in Christchurch in this, their hour of need.

For those who haven’t been to Christchurch, it really is a great, great little city.

Snowclad mountains on the western horizon, a beautiful seashore on its eastern flank and a dinky downtown area about the size of Adelaide’s CBD with enough cool bars for a city three times its size.

Words fail us in trying to describe the sight of the famous Christchurch Cathedral in ruins, not to mention the awful, awful human toll, details of which we will continue to update.

Christchurch in happier times.

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64 comments

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- Erick says:
  
  01:40pm | 22/02/11
  
  The people of Christchurch have all my best wishes, though I doubt that will help. I’m sure there will be relief funds announced, and I’ll donate money when they are - probably the best thing I can do.
  
  Reply
Tedd says:

03:57pm | 22/02/11

Possibly the best thing Australians can do is plan a South Island holiday later in the year.

The heavily tourism-based South Island and Chch society & economy will really, really, really need it.
Erick says:

05:15pm | 22/02/11

Hmmm, I’ve never been to NZ ...
farkurnell says:

10:16pm | 22/02/11

I was in Christchurch 2 weeks ago.Such a beautifully city even with the devastation from the 1st sept quake. Now the pictures look horrendeous.Apart from the terrible loss of life and the remaining suffering I fear the city may never recover.Christchurch is going to need a lot of support .I visited Littleton on the day we left .I just feel so lucky and blessed ,I could have quite easily been there today.
steve parker says:

11:10pm | 22/02/11

Go mate - the Southern Island is in my opinion the most beautiful country in the World. Stunning scenery, lovely people, uncluttered and pure. Christchurch is a jewel, and will become so again after this terrible tragedy. Sister city to Adelaide.
Reg says:

05:58am | 23/02/11

Hey man that Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker is an amazing communicator.
Reg says:

05:06pm | 23/02/11

I don’t know if this has been posted, but just in case….. http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/
- James says:
  
  01:42pm | 22/02/11
  
  Aweful news, time to put Gillards declarations we are family into action.
  
  Reply
Tony of Poorakistan says:

01:51pm | 22/02/11

Interesting that the redhead would put it that way, given the massive snub of a week or so ago, where they made it obvious she wasn’t good enough to address the kiwi parliament. Still, I’d rather they got our tax dollars than some of the other lot we’ve commited to.
James says:

02:06pm | 22/02/11

There is politics and then there is ordinary person. Who cares about politics, it is the ordinary person that is important in all of these situations.
Expat says:

03:07pm | 22/02/11

And so yet again we see that there are those who just can’t wait to use human tragedy to make cheap political attacks.

Condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
john says:

03:39pm | 22/02/11

@James - agreed, the Australian response to a neighboring decimated city so far is too lean and we should not wait for them to ask for specific help, they are obviously shocked at the scale of death & destruction.

We should overwhelm them with assistance, and help them re-build.
Sir Ronald Bradnam says:

03:46pm | 22/02/11

Tony of Poorakistan crawl back under your rock you f…... what a ridiculous statement I have been reading your ramblings for a long time but that takes the cake total 65 dead and from my friends in NZ they expect that to go to hundreds after what they have seen in chch today and all you can say is,massive snub and talk about apportioning tax dollars, you really are a scumbag yiou piece of s…
Hopefully you will feel to asahmed to ever comment again or change your name.
Condolences to all who have lost their lives and we are thinking of you our kiwi brothers.
rufus says:

03:48pm | 22/02/11

Tony of Poorakistan, chief grub of The Punch.

Condolences to the people of Christchurch. Let’s try and help.
Seano says:

03:49pm | 22/02/11

@Tony

“I’d rather they got our tax dollars than some of the other lot we’ve commited to.”

You mean Queenslanders?
iansand says:

04:18pm | 22/02/11

There was help in the air at about the time you typed that comment.
LauraBoBaura says:

04:41pm | 22/02/11

Tony - what a horrible, disgusting thing to say at a time like this. You should be so ashamed of yourself.
Not even a sniff of empathy from you for the families who have lost loved ones, or homes. Nothing. You really must be an vile bitter excuse for a human being.
Rob r Charteris says:

05:04pm | 22/02/11

Tony of Poorakistan says:01:51pm; Just the sort of thing to spurt out of a wanker. There is no low you lot will not go too is there.
Reg says:

04:48am | 23/02/11

Dreadfully sad.

I must say the professionalism and candor presented by the television and rescue crews are most admirable, but perhaps even Kochie would be rendered in a better light by such an experience.

Most impressive and I hope some of the Australian networks are taking a lesson from what they see and the clarity of its delivery.

Tony of Poorakistan, I suggest you take refuge from your own venom by changing your name and learning that pissing into the wind is never a good idea.
Reg says:

04:57am | 23/02/11

@ John. “03:39pm | 22/02/11

“@James - agreed, the Australian response to a neighboring decimated city so far is too lean and we should not wait for them to ask for specific help, they are obviously shocked at the scale of death & destruction.”

A bit hasty don’t you think James? What did you expect within 4 hours of the disaster? As I understand it Australian teams arrived in Christchurch in the early hours of this morning, NZ time. A 12 hour response including assembly, loading and flight time.
- Seanr says:
  
  01:50pm | 22/02/11
  
  My thoughts are with everyone affected by this event. I hope Christchurch recovers as quickly as possible.
  
  Reply
- LissettaV says:
  
  01:58pm | 22/02/11
  
  We ARE family and are sending messages from the heart to all affected in NZ. Have just gone through the Queensland floods, still dealing with that but so much more has happened to the world since then. We must all stick together and support each other. Hold your loved ones close and stay strong, we are all with you. xx
  
  Reply
- LauraBoBaura says:
  
  01:58pm | 22/02/11
  
  Much love to everyone in Christchurch at the moment & all of Aotearoa.
  
  Reply
- Jodie says:
  
  02:03pm | 22/02/11
  
  What dreadful, heartbreaking news. I hope our neighbours recover as soon as they can, and that we pitch in to help in every way that we can.
  
  Reply
- Ben81 says:
  
  02:09pm | 22/02/11
  
  It’s amazing to see a steady stream of people coming out alive from that collapsed building.
  
  Not so good is hearing the inane questions from reporters looking for drama from people at the scene, like “Would warzone be a way you’d describe this?” “Would it be fair to say you feel lucky to be alive right now?” Also constantly pushing the guys at a press conference to pull a number out of the air they can publish about fatalities etc after they again clearly said they don’t know is poor form.
  
  Reply
Tedd says:

04:00pm | 22/02/11

Earthquake-devastated is a better description, surely.

Much like severe-flood-affected for QLD & Victoria.

No need for war metaphors.
- Amy Sturt says:
  
  02:15pm | 22/02/11
  
  I love Christchurch. It’s a beautiful city. Absolutely gorgeous. The people are just as lovely. I’m so upset about the damage to the cathedral - an absolutely glorious building. My love to all in that amazing city.
  
  Reply
- Danny B says:
  
  02:22pm | 22/02/11
  
  I was over there in 2006, it’s a beautiful city. Best wishes for everyone over there, my and my wife’s thoughts are with them.
  
  Reply
- MCloud says:
  
  02:26pm | 22/02/11
  
  Imagine seeing the Sydney Opera House with one of its halls half destroyed, This is a tragic day for the people of Christchurch and for the beautiful and historic city that it is…my heart goes out
  
  Reply
- Dawn says:
  
  02:27pm | 22/02/11
  
  NZ we are all part of the same family “Down Under”, Australia is with you.
  
  Reply
- Andrew says:
  
  02:58pm | 22/02/11
  
  I wonder who Daniel Nalliah will blame for this one? Did the cathedral let some gays in perhaps? You’d think the almighty would at least spare his OWN HOUSE though, wouldn’t you…
  
  I’ll be sending some $$$ to help them, and will help directly my friends who have been affected. Prayers I’ll leave to those who want to feel like they’ve done something, rather than actually doing something useful.
  
  Reply
Dave Sag says:

09:11am | 23/02/11

Sad I know but I was thinking the exact same thing. I mean the city is called Christchurch and it’s main church gets trashed; and on Twitter and Facebook people, even quite sensible people, are asking for prayers for the city! I’m sure they mean well but seriously, the city of Christchurch needs good old secular dollars right now, and for people to keep the hell away if they are not actually there to help. Sorry theists but your prayers are bullshit.
- mary monica roche says:
  
  03:06pm | 22/02/11
  
  I always thought that the volcanoes were located on the North Island of New Zealand and not on the South Island.
  Christchurch is famous for the Canterbury Crusaders Rugby Team , The cricket Hadlee brothers and its well planned flat city which has a church at its centre as part of a square,
  No matter how well planned a city is ,earthquakes unplan a city.
  To look at the vity of Christchurch from Cashmere , its highest peak, must be a dreadful sight.
  My sympathy is for the people of Christchurch New Zealand.
  
  Reply
rufus says:

03:52pm | 22/02/11

Earthquakes are not usually linked to volcanoes, mary.
iansand says:

04:21pm | 22/02/11

The boundary of the Australian and Pacific Plates runs down the west coast. At Fox there is a marker so you can walk from plate to [plate.
Kika says:

04:31pm | 22/02/11

NZ is sitting right along a fault line which helped the island pop up out of the ocean in the first place. They were predicting the earthquake to hit further north towards Wellington, that’s why it has been suprising that the fault cracked further south toward Christchurch. NZ is just a seismic and geomorphological activity hub basically - earthquakes, volcanoes, hot mud pools the whole lot.
Hugh says:

04:56pm | 22/02/11

One of the worlds largest rifts reside off the east coast of the south island
Rob r Charteris says:

05:51pm | 22/02/11

Banks Peninsula (the hills next to Christchurch) is made up of a bunch of dead volcanoes. The port of Lyttleton is inside a dead volcanoe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banks_Peninsula
Reg says:

07:10am | 23/02/11

The NZ plate is sliding under the Australian and although most volcanoes are found along the plate junctions, Hawaii is the exception. All the islands there are volcanically derived and in the middle of a plate. The Indonesian chain of volcanoes marks the edge of such a plate, one that will ultimately create a new mountain of Himalayan proportions to its North.

The big Indonesian quake was preceded by a gigantic vertical quake South West of NZ , one that was barely felt, but the inner planet echoes can excite other plate activity.

I have a friend in SF who is banned from a certain Pizza shop because every time she enters there is a minor Earth quake. No she’s not fat.
- simon says:
  
  03:34pm | 22/02/11
  
  All the best Christchurch!!!
  
  Reply
- Seano says:
  
  03:57pm | 22/02/11
  
  Shocking and sad. My thoughts and best wishes go to our cousins in New Zealand.
  
  Reply
- Ash says:
  
  04:29pm | 22/02/11
  
  I’m an expat aussie living in auckland. The media over here is already thanking home for their help! I have friends and collegues down there, some we are still waiting to hear if they are alright. Please dig deap if you can there will be people sleeping in parks for god knows how long. It has been an awful awful day!
  
  Reply
- Lola says:
  
  04:32pm | 22/02/11
  
  Praying for everyone in NZ and the good old Chchch. Bless you all. We’re thinking of you.
  
  Reply
- Wallaby says:
  
  04:46pm | 22/02/11
  
  I was watching Question Time today when Julia Gillard was expressing Australia’s symathies and condolences. I was dismayed to see Wayne Swann and Anthony Albanesi in the background having a good laugh and giggle about some private joke.
  
  I thought it displayed great disrespect to NZ.
  
  Reply
Another PR campaign says:

06:48pm | 22/02/11

Gillard is only after the Bligh bounce in popularity,disgusting opportunism and a shame she didnt think as much of her own country without prompting,a real piece of garbage this woman and the sooner she is gone the better
Expat says:

07:40pm | 22/02/11

Congratulations, aPRc.

You and Tony of Poorakistan have established an all-time low, speaking of disgusting opportunism.

Condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
TheRealDave says:

10:28pm | 22/02/11

You idiot, of course our Prime Minister is going to offer words of comfort, condolence and aid to our staunchest ally of all time.

There’s only one piece of garbage around here and its you.
SYMO says:

10:29pm | 22/02/11

I saw and thought the same thing. Subsequently sent email to Swan and Albanese expressing my disgust. They may not be interested in what the PM had to say but at least portray on behalf of those who voted for them some respect to their neighbours. Unfortunately couldn’t see what was going on the other side of the chamber so can’t say whether it was any better. MP’s should get over themselves and realise that their job is bigger than their own personal egos..
Wallaby says:

12:15pm | 23/02/11

TheRealDave says:

If you were responding to my post you should read it again. I was not criticising the PM. She did what I would expect her to do in the situation. I was angry at those two ingrates behind her chuckling away between them selves during a heartfelt and solomn speech. It showed unbelievable ignorance and great disrespect to NZ.

If that makes me a “piece of garbage” in your eyes then that is a badge I will wear with some pride.
- Trina says:
  
  04:59pm | 22/02/11
  
  Thank you from the bottom of my heart Australia, especially when you have had your own share of Mother Nature being a b*tch lately! I was touched by Austalians response to Pike River Mine, we truly are cousins. xx
  
  Reply
- notSue says:
  
  05:16pm | 22/02/11
  
  They’re only just across The Ditch. :( Heartfelt best wishes to all Kiwis and Cantaburians especially, in this devastating time.
  
  Reply
- Col. of Blackburn says:
  
  05:38pm | 22/02/11
  
  What’s wrong? Clive Hamilton, Ross Garnaut and Tim Flannery haven’t blamed this on AGW yet!? All our thoughts go to our Kiwi cousins. Does anyone know if there has been a donation fund started yet?
  
  Reply
Expat says:

06:07pm | 22/02/11

Not all our thoughts obviously, Col. You clearly have others in mind, and felt the need to mention them first.

Condolences to those who lost loved ones.
Rocket says:

07:26pm | 22/02/11

You really are behaning like a dh at a sad time like this. Those people you mention would likely believe the geo-scientists who say that earthquakes are due to plate tectonics. An interesting thing about plate tectonic theory is that one of its earliest proponents, Alfred Wegener, who proposed “continental drift” in 1912, was criticised for many years, and it took about 50 years for plate tectonics to be widely accepted (helped by satellite data).

I believe there have been very minor seismological tremors causd by massive monsoons on the Indian Subcontinent, but other than that, it is all essentially due to plate tectonics.
- Grounderz says:
  
  06:37pm | 22/02/11
  
  My thoughts and prayers go out to you, Christchurch.
  
  Reply
True Believer says:

11:26am | 23/02/11

@Grounderz

I will say ‘Amen’ to that. A beautiful country, lovely city and such a tragedy. Let us hope and pray for news of successful rescues also.
- Carz says:
  
  07:50pm | 22/02/11
  
  My thoughts are with all of those affected. But I do wish that people would stop using tragedies for political point scoring.
  
  Reply
- James A says:
  
  09:07pm | 22/02/11
  
  All the best to our Kiwi mates - I hope we help you as well as we can.
  
  How long before the Climate Change ghouls use this earthquake as an example of ‘Global warming’ in a sick attempt to earn money out of carbon credit trading?
  
  Stay strong our little sister city.
  
  Reply
Rocket says:

11:02pm | 22/02/11

You seem to be the ghoul, and angry as well.

Plate tectonics explains earthquakes - and as I noted below, it took a long time for this to be accepted.
Dave Sag says:

10:48am | 23/02/11

James just to make you happy, please read http://www.celsias.com/article/scientists-predict-climate-change-will-trigger-vio/

Increased levels of seismic activity is one of the predicted effects of global warming; Waddayaknow. Does that make me a climate change ghoul, or just someone who is familiar with the science behind global warming and consequent climate change and concerned that the later we choose to act, the worst its going to be for everyone?
- Edward III says:
  
  09:54pm | 22/02/11
  
  Despite fighting and dying side by side in blood soaked trenches for 100 years, and Australia doing all it can to help out our great Kiwi mates as always, the NZ Greens refused to allowed the Australian PM to make a friendly address to the Kiwi Parliament.
  
  Seems like all Greens are self-loathing, hate filled loonies. Just waiting for Bob Brown to blame AGW, mining, John Howard, the US, or white people for this tragedy.
  
  Hang tough Kiwis! We are locked in shoulder to shoulder with you mates to the end.
  
  Reply
DS says:

12:43am | 23/02/11

Isn’t it great how you turn a thread on NZ and its tragedy into a ‘how horrible the Greens are’ diatribe!
- Gregg says:
  
  12:15am | 23/02/11
  
  A shocking tragedy for all in the area and with the many deaths and injuries, there’ll be many more greatly affected and we can only be so grateful any earthquakes we experience usually have far less consequences.
  It will take quite some time to recover from this and I agree with the sentiments expressed by most that we should help as we can.
  Hopefully nature will not get too more unkind for the shaky isles under the long white cloud, though there is a rumour the boys in black were overdoing the Haka practicing with the WC coming up!
  
  Reply
- Pyre says:
  
  07:33am | 23/02/11
  
  The ONLY thing that anyone in Australia should be thinking right now is of the people still trapped inside rubble, and how to help our Kiwi brothers - nothing else is of importance.
  
  Reply

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Christchurch: a great city, a tragic tragic day

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64 comments

Erick says:

Tedd says:

Erick says:

farkurnell says:

steve parker says:

Reg says:

Reg says:

James says:

Tony of Poorakistan says:

James says:

Expat says:

john says:

Sir Ronald Bradnam says:

rufus says:

Seano says:

iansand says:

LauraBoBaura says:

Rob r Charteris says:

Reg says:

Reg says:

Seanr says:

LissettaV says:

LauraBoBaura says:

Jodie says:

Ben81 says:

Tedd says:

Amy Sturt says:

Danny B says:

MCloud says:

Dawn says:

Andrew says:

Dave Sag says:

mary monica roche says:

rufus says:

iansand says:

Kika says:

Hugh says:

Rob r Charteris says:

Reg says:

simon says:

Seano says:

Ash says:

Lola says:

Wallaby says:

Another PR campaign says:

Expat says:

TheRealDave says:

SYMO says:

Wallaby says:

Trina says:

notSue says:

Col. of Blackburn says:

Expat says:

Rocket says:

Grounderz says:

True Believer says:

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Rocket says:

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