Massive Quake hits Christchurch
A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has struck Christchurch this morning causing what looks to be fairly widespread damage throughout the area. The facades of a number of older builders have collapsed and critical services including water and power have been disrupted. The international airport is closed until at least 10am. At last report (about 45 minutes ago) most cell tower emergency backups had about an hour of power left. If you’re there… TURN YOUR PHONE OFF.
There have been no reports of death so far (unless you include the cat that got squished by a television), but a number of people are in a serious condition including a man in his 50′s who was crushed by a falling chimney.
If you want to read more about the quake, stuff.co.nz seems to be the best source this morning. I’d also recommend watching Sky News (if you have Sky TV) over TVNZ… sorry One, but your coverage was pretty average and it took HOURS before you got any images and reports out. Tut tut. Some interweb users have even said that Fletch & Vaughan’s updates on FB are far more useful than your coverage.
Hoping to get an update from our man on the spot, Slink, once communication is restored.
This post tagged as: christchurch, earthquake, quake
04
Sep
righto, finally got power back…it was centered away from chch however rolled like a god damned freight train. was standing in the packhouse in tuam street, central chch. sounded like a gust of wind, then bang it hit…still took the bread truck out, however cbd essentially decimated and most supermarkets in states of dissarray. what you are seeing in news media is not the real picture! most of western chch and south chch are completely fine, with power returning or back on. aftershocks are violent and rather periodic, with a big one belived to still be on the way. looting did start within 10min of the quake, however was abrubtly stopped. i was recalled to work at 0930 and by this point most supermarkets were cleaning up or open, panic has ensued the minority and people are grabbing what ever they can. i have not seen the eastern suburbs although i belive they are bad, if not part of the ocean. on the whole though normality is slowly returning and unrest is settling. although will take a few days in places, please please please if you are in Chch still follow all civil defence instructions and stay home where possible, as rubbernecking will just cause congestion like this morning and slow down those of us that are required to be on the roads whilst wanting to be with our family. but yes freaky as hell but everyone appears to be present and okish. just one plasma gone at my place
Lucky thing you had two Slink!!
Thanks for that report Slink… now back to Jimi for the weather… Hahaha!
Loving the quote from John Key on the news “It looks like a scene off a movie”
That’s IN a movie or FROM a movie or OUT OF a movie. GUH! I’m sure the news are using that quote just to make him look silly. Have to say I was superbly impressed to see him turn up on the ground that afternoon. He actually looked DEEPLY shocked (borderline distressed) walking through the streets. Hard to imagine Uncle Helen looking quite as emotional. Good job, JK. Reckon Bob Parker is doing a good job fronting up to the media too.
Good humour with TV One coverage yesterday. Took an age before it started, and then they called it:
EARTH
QUAKE
Ummmm… TVNZ? Earthquake is one word. There was something equally funny about TV3 this morning, but I can’t recall what it was now… besides the act of bringing Sean Plunkett out of Mothballs. My advice? PUT HIM BACK!!!!! PUT HIM BACK NOWWWWWWW!!!!!