New Zealand Earth Quakes

[wigam]

Hi

If you haven't heard the South Island of my little country of New Zealand has been hit by a massive earth quake on Saturday morning.
The quake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale. It was centered on Christchurch, the 2nd biggest city in New Zealand. About 140 km's North of where I live.

It hit at 04:37 hrs and it found me and the wife and kids in bed sleeping soundly. We were woken to a loud rumbling sound, like a freight train coming through the house. Then the skaking hit and it went on for about 1 minute. The sound was awesome. We ran to the kids and got them up and under cover. The skate lasted for about 1 minute. The house kept swaying for approx 2-3 minutes, it was like being at sea.

We got the kids back into bed, but found we were unable to sleep. We still had power and listened to the radio for news. Not a lot for a while.

The city of Christchurch is a shambles, historic buildings coming down, others needing to be brought down as they are unsafe. Damage is estimated to be in the billions of $. Homes are wrecks, collapsing, liquefaction, it all happening.

At the moment its D-Day + 5. We are over 300 after shocks and counting.

I found this, its a map of the aftershocks so far. It shows the main quake and every single aftershock to date. It gets updated with every new after shock.

I live at the bottom of that map, A small white dot is my home town, of Timaru. It is just below the township of Seaforth.

New Zealand Quake Map

[Konrad2000]

sad news ;(
but good to hear you and your family are OK,

[wigam]

Thanks Konrad.

It is sad but your right we are all ok, not a single death. Its amazing really when you think about it. Its been said that in a earth Quake of this size about 200 deaths was to be expected. Just lucky I suppose that it struck in the early morning, not busy times during the day or at times when the night life was at its max.

[Imp]

Glad to hear you rode it out & think you are right hitting at that time helped.

[Iwo Jim]

Wow heck of a way to be awakened, glad to here you and your family are ok.

[Greybeard]

Hello Wigam,

glad you are OK.. been there, done that.. lived most of my life in southern california

so. cal does have 4 seasons, contrary to the tourist info..

drought
fire
flood
earthquake

greybeard

[wigam]

Thanks John, Jim and Steve. Was really glad that there were no fatalities.

Lol at your seasons.

[Epoletov [SPR].]

It is glad for you that there are no victims !

[Walrus]

Wow...that map is cool.
Gee...my old hometown got a proper hammering eh.
sad times for those that had all their stuff destroyed.
Lucky no-one died...very bloody lucky eh.

Chur!