Serpo
21st February 2011, 05:12 PM
A large quake has struck Christchurch, with reports of buildings and houses down and people trapped.
Witnesses said there were buildings down all around Cathedral Square in the city, with the church destroyed.
Witnesses said there would be "deaths" this time and their were reports of people being trapped in buildings across the city.
Amber Armitage said people were wandering around central Christchurch trying to get out but all exits from the city were blocked.
There was a strong smell of gas and clouds of dust.
A bus on Colombo St was "completely trapped under bricks" and people were working to free passengers trapped in it.
She said the quake felt much stronger than the first and thought the city was "irreparable".
Christchurch resident Sean Scanlon said it was by far the biggest shake since the original September 4 quake. The power was out and phone lines jammed.
Christchurch Hospital was being evacuated, a spokewoman for the hospital said.
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Kay Cowlishaw said there was descruction everywhere.
"There's just water pouring out and sewerage, the whole garage is filled with water. There are cracks in the road.
Malcolm, a policeman from Darfield, was driving into town to a rowing event when the earthquake hit.
"I thought I had a flat tyre, then the place was shaking like hell."
He said oak trees in the Hagley Park had been uprooted and fallen across tents.
"I'm shaken, I'm at Christ College now and the school is a shambles - there's a lot of damage to the buildings.
"All of the water pipes are burst and it looks like a tsunami coming across the park."
"It's just unbelievable - just the sheer power."
His daughter was at Rangi Ruru school and she said students were running around screaming.
Malcolm's wife Jenny said the mayor was on the radio telling people not to go outside.
"It doesn't sound good - it sounds like this time people injured," she said.
Today's 6.3 earthquake would have felt more powerful for Christchurch residents than the original quake on September 4.
GNS duty seismologist Bill Fry said the acceleration of today's earthquake was larger in Christchurch city than the magnitude 7 earthquake last year.
"Instantaneously, they would have felt the greatest amount of shaking today. But the duration would not have been as long."
The earthquake happened at a shallow depth of five to six metres below ground.
In the city, the acceleration measured the same as the force of gravity.
In September, the largest acceleration felt around the city was on its eastern side, and this measured 0.8 times the force of gravity.
Today's earthquake did not last as long as the September quake, but Dr Fry said its duration had not been confirmed yet.
- Stuff
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/videos/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4688231/Massive-damage-injuries-in-Christchurch-quake
Witnesses said there were buildings down all around Cathedral Square in the city, with the church destroyed.
Witnesses said there would be "deaths" this time and their were reports of people being trapped in buildings across the city.
Amber Armitage said people were wandering around central Christchurch trying to get out but all exits from the city were blocked.
There was a strong smell of gas and clouds of dust.
A bus on Colombo St was "completely trapped under bricks" and people were working to free passengers trapped in it.
She said the quake felt much stronger than the first and thought the city was "irreparable".
Christchurch resident Sean Scanlon said it was by far the biggest shake since the original September 4 quake. The power was out and phone lines jammed.
Christchurch Hospital was being evacuated, a spokewoman for the hospital said.
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Kay Cowlishaw said there was descruction everywhere.
"There's just water pouring out and sewerage, the whole garage is filled with water. There are cracks in the road.
Malcolm, a policeman from Darfield, was driving into town to a rowing event when the earthquake hit.
"I thought I had a flat tyre, then the place was shaking like hell."
He said oak trees in the Hagley Park had been uprooted and fallen across tents.
"I'm shaken, I'm at Christ College now and the school is a shambles - there's a lot of damage to the buildings.
"All of the water pipes are burst and it looks like a tsunami coming across the park."
"It's just unbelievable - just the sheer power."
His daughter was at Rangi Ruru school and she said students were running around screaming.
Malcolm's wife Jenny said the mayor was on the radio telling people not to go outside.
"It doesn't sound good - it sounds like this time people injured," she said.
Today's 6.3 earthquake would have felt more powerful for Christchurch residents than the original quake on September 4.
GNS duty seismologist Bill Fry said the acceleration of today's earthquake was larger in Christchurch city than the magnitude 7 earthquake last year.
"Instantaneously, they would have felt the greatest amount of shaking today. But the duration would not have been as long."
The earthquake happened at a shallow depth of five to six metres below ground.
In the city, the acceleration measured the same as the force of gravity.
In September, the largest acceleration felt around the city was on its eastern side, and this measured 0.8 times the force of gravity.
Today's earthquake did not last as long as the September quake, but Dr Fry said its duration had not been confirmed yet.
- Stuff
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/videos/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4688231/Massive-damage-injuries-in-Christchurch-quake