Quake Rocks Christchurch New Zealand
The following video provides a basic explanation as to the tectonics of the region near and around New Zealand, along with a look at the New Zealand earthquakes on the South Island and North Island, and why the Christchurch earthquake caused so much damage.
There are at least two lessons learned from the tragedy in Christchurch,
1. The fact that there are unknown numbers of ‘undiscovered’ fault zones, of which the Christchurch earthquake was a result of, is reason enough to be concerned and prepared for earthquakes even if you live a distance outside of known earthquake fault zones. The tentacles of faults can sometimes spread like a glass plate cracking into webs of cuts and splinters.
2. Shallow earthquakes can cause significant surface shaking and damage.
On the heels of a major earthquake that rocked near Christchurch New Zealand on September 4, 2010 (magnitude 7.1), another major earthquake, this time a magnitude 6.3 struck the city of 350,000 during Tuesday afternoon 12:51PM local time February 22, 2011, and was followed by several large earthquakes of magnitude 5.6 and 5.5.
Today’s New Zealand earthquake, based on it’s close proximity to Christchurch compared to last years quake, coupled with the fact that today’s quake was very shallow (4 km) compared to last September’s quake (10 km), will surely result in more widespread damage.
Of high concern was the timing of the earthquake, during the height of a busy workday.
The September quake was located about 35 km from Christchurch while today’s quake was just 10 km from the city center, quite near Lyttleton, a coastal community.
From the New Zealand Herald, nzherald.com.nz, Prime Minister John Key tells TV3, the authorities will be working through the night to try to free those people still trapped under rubble. Speaking from Christchurch after flying down this afternoon, Mr Key told One News it was likely the quake would prove to be New Zealand’s “darkest day”.
1:00pm
Phone lines are down so it’s difficult to get information, but Herald reporter Jarrod Booker said in a brief phone call that they were experiencing a massive earthquake, “bigger than the original”. He sounded very shaken.
Phone lines are down so it’s difficult to get information, but Herald reporter Jarrod Booker said in a brief phone call that they were experiencing a massive earthquake, “bigger than the original”. He sounded very shaken.
1:02pm
The earthquake was felt as far north as Wellington and as far south as Queenstown.
The earthquake was felt as far north as Wellington and as far south as Queenstown.
1:03pm
Witness reports from Facebook:
“bloody awful here nr Sheffield – house rolled up and down and shook violently for a good 10 secons or more – husband in town has no power – i am a shaking wreck.”
Witness reports from Facebook:
“bloody awful here nr Sheffield – house rolled up and down and shook violently for a good 10 secons or more – husband in town has no power – i am a shaking wreck.”
“Yes my house is a mess, feel bigger that the big one, way bigger”
“Felt huge. Everything smashed, furniture upturned. Very scary”
“Massive destruction I’m the inner city”
1.42pm
The TVNZ building in Christchurch had collapsed, a source, who described the quake as “massive”, told NZPA.
The TVNZ building in Christchurch had collapsed, a source, who described the quake as “massive”, told NZPA.
1.44pm
A TV3 reporter said the Pyne Gould building in Cambridge Tce had collapsed.
A TV3 reporter said the Pyne Gould building in Cambridge Tce had collapsed.
2.32pm
“Multiple fatalities have been reported at several locations in the central city, including two buses crushed by falling buildings.
“Multiple fatalities have been reported at several locations in the central city, including two buses crushed by falling buildings.
3.01pm
TV3 is reporting up to 200 people may be inside the Pyne Gould Guinness building on Cambridge Tce and screams can be heard from inside.
TV3 is reporting up to 200 people may be inside the Pyne Gould Guinness building on Cambridge Tce and screams can be heard from inside.
Photograph: AP
As of 7PM local time, the guardian.co.uk reports, “65 people are confirmed dead and more deaths are expected as rescuers comb through the rubble in Christchurch’s centre after a 6.3 magnitude shock hit the city during lunch-hour.”
Photos: BBC
Christchurch, New Zealand, Earthquake Sequence
6 days prior – 6.3 earthquake and aftershocks – day after
Each image credit of the sequence: http://quake.crowe.co.nz/
Each image credit of the sequence: http://quake.crowe.co.nz/
base map credit: http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/
Map showing scale of shallow earthquake in Christchurch, only 5km deep
The Christchurch earthquake (September 2010, and this new February 2011 quake) has been determined to be on a newly discovered fault. One wonders how many undiscovered faults there are in the world…
From The Independent:
“It’s not a new fault in the sense that it has only just been created but it is a new fault that has only just been discovered,” Dr Roger Musson, head of seismic hazards and archives at the British Geological Society, told The Independent. “Some fault lines are very easy to see but the one under Christchurch is covered by sediment and would have been invisible without thorough geophysical searches.”
“It’s not a new fault in the sense that it has only just been created but it is a new fault that has only just been discovered,” Dr Roger Musson, head of seismic hazards and archives at the British Geological Society, told The Independent. “Some fault lines are very easy to see but the one under Christchurch is covered by sediment and would have been invisible without thorough geophysical searches.”
A video explanation and illustration of the regional New Zealand tectonics and earthquakes, and why the Christchurch earthquake caused so much damage.
Christchurch New Zealand Tectonics and Quakes
There has been lots of shaking going on in the world. Time to consider building an earthquake emergency kit including extra food and water, something that everyone should do who is living in or near earthquake country (which is more of the world than you may think).
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