KiwiElf
23rd December 2011, 03:26
Two buildings collapse as quakes hit Chch, NZ
Newswire December 23, 2011, 3:40 pm
Two large earthquakes have just hit Christchurch, causing two vacant buildings to collapse and liquefaction but no reported major injuries.
The first 5.8 quake struck at 1.58pm, 8km deep and 20km east of the city, and the second at 3.18pm, measuring 5.8 at a depth of 4.9km, 16km northeast of Christchurch, according to the US Geological Survey.
There were widespread evacuations of shopping malls, buildings and Christchurch Airport.
Liquefaction was reported in the eastern suburbs, which were hard-hit by February's devastating quake.
A partly demolished building on the corner of Barbadoes and Kilmore streets has collapsed and a vacant house in the suburb of Hillsborough also collapsed.
There was no threat of a tsunami.
Police say there have been no reports of serious injuries or widespread damage.
St John Ambulance says it attended 19 incidents such as heart attacks, collapses, panic attacks and one minor car accident before the second quake struck.
Four people were rescued by the Coastguard following a rockfall at Boulder Bay, near Taylors Mistake, and one person suffered minor injuries in Eastgate Mall.
Power company Orion said an estimated 15,000 connections lost power but it hoped to restore electricity to most customers by 4pm.
Police were to assess the damage from the air.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority evacuated its building following the quake and were working outside to coordinate a response.
A spokesman for Prime Minister John Key says he and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee were being kept briefed on the situation and would receive updates throughout the afternoon.
Christchurch Airport was evacuated after the quake, but a spokeswoman told NZ Newswire it is expected to reopen later on Friday.
The National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington has been activated and Civil Defence advised people to expect aftershocks.
There had been a rockfall at Scarborough but shipping containers at the foot of the cliff had stopped the debris.
Police say all major shopping malls were evacuated and closed and a person injured at Eastgate Mall was taken to hospital.
Malls were full with Christmas shoppers when the first quake hit and police say the city's streets were busy with traffic.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker told TVNZ the quake would add to people's stress as they recovered from the devastating 6.3 quake on February 22 which destroyed much of the central city and killed 182 people.
"Unfortunately we have got use to this. We'll get over the initial shock ... It's going to be a hell of a day, my heart just breaks really. So many people have been through so much."
He said the quake would set back the city's rebuild and power, water and sewage systems would need to be checked.
Source: Yahoo NZ News
Newswire December 23, 2011, 3:40 pm
Two large earthquakes have just hit Christchurch, causing two vacant buildings to collapse and liquefaction but no reported major injuries.
The first 5.8 quake struck at 1.58pm, 8km deep and 20km east of the city, and the second at 3.18pm, measuring 5.8 at a depth of 4.9km, 16km northeast of Christchurch, according to the US Geological Survey.
There were widespread evacuations of shopping malls, buildings and Christchurch Airport.
Liquefaction was reported in the eastern suburbs, which were hard-hit by February's devastating quake.
A partly demolished building on the corner of Barbadoes and Kilmore streets has collapsed and a vacant house in the suburb of Hillsborough also collapsed.
There was no threat of a tsunami.
Police say there have been no reports of serious injuries or widespread damage.
St John Ambulance says it attended 19 incidents such as heart attacks, collapses, panic attacks and one minor car accident before the second quake struck.
Four people were rescued by the Coastguard following a rockfall at Boulder Bay, near Taylors Mistake, and one person suffered minor injuries in Eastgate Mall.
Power company Orion said an estimated 15,000 connections lost power but it hoped to restore electricity to most customers by 4pm.
Police were to assess the damage from the air.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority evacuated its building following the quake and were working outside to coordinate a response.
A spokesman for Prime Minister John Key says he and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee were being kept briefed on the situation and would receive updates throughout the afternoon.
Christchurch Airport was evacuated after the quake, but a spokeswoman told NZ Newswire it is expected to reopen later on Friday.
The National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington has been activated and Civil Defence advised people to expect aftershocks.
There had been a rockfall at Scarborough but shipping containers at the foot of the cliff had stopped the debris.
Police say all major shopping malls were evacuated and closed and a person injured at Eastgate Mall was taken to hospital.
Malls were full with Christmas shoppers when the first quake hit and police say the city's streets were busy with traffic.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker told TVNZ the quake would add to people's stress as they recovered from the devastating 6.3 quake on February 22 which destroyed much of the central city and killed 182 people.
"Unfortunately we have got use to this. We'll get over the initial shock ... It's going to be a hell of a day, my heart just breaks really. So many people have been through so much."
He said the quake would set back the city's rebuild and power, water and sewage systems would need to be checked.
Source: Yahoo NZ News