Hey New Zealand members

[Julie]

Just heard there was a 7.0 quake in New Zealand. Hope you guys are all doing ok.

 

[WaWa]

Thanks Julie
There are no deaths reported and only a few injuries. They say it is similar to the recent Haiti earthquake, but thank God our infrastructure is better here and minimal destruction.Some homes near the centre are destroyed but in the centre of Christchurch it is not so bad apparently.
still being assessed though. i have friends in CHCH but haven't heard from them yet. No cellphone usage available. fingers crossed

 

[Julie]

Hope your friends are ok, glad you posted up. Hope to hear from St. Allie, do you know if her area was around the quake?

 

[J-Gee]

I just heard about the quake a couple hours ago and the members here were my first thought also.My thoughts and prayers are with New Zealanders at this time.

 

[Wade E]

Glad you are good Wawa, hope the others are too.

 

[Runningwolf]

Sorry to hear about the Quake but glad everyone is ok so far. We're thinking about our friends over there.

 

[Old Philosopher]

Anybody hear from St. Allie yet, PM or otherwise?

 

[WaWa]

update

Allie is in Auckland, so that's the other end of the country, she will be safe but I don't know if she has friends or family in chch. I heard from my friend today and they are ok, 'rode it like a pro' she told me! Just a few things smashed at their place. The damage is extensive and now fires are breaking out as power is restored to buildings and there is low water pressure too so fire dept finding that hard. CBD is closed and all public buildings are closed until water and adequate sanitation is restored. One death has been reported now. we are so lucky. apparently, this is not 'the big one'

 

[myakkagldwngr]

I'm glad to hear you faired it as best as possible. The thought of the ground shaking isn't real assuring to me.
I'll say a prayer for all of you Kiwi's.

 

[Runningwolf]

Glad to hear things faired faily well considering.

 

[Old Philosopher]

Sounds like the city was wisely named. Anything over a Mag 7 is nothing to sneeze at. A 7.2 in a west coast US city would be a real killer.
Glad to hear the major losses were only property.

 

[WaWa]

Yes we have that to be thankful for. The pop of chch is about 300,000 so one death, (heart attack from shock) is not bad really, all things considered. NZ has the strictest building codes in the world and now I can see why that's a good thing!!! cheers everyone for the thoughts

 

[Old Philosopher]

After seeing a few of the photos of the damage, I think more was at work than just good building codes! Historically I don't think a city of 300,000 ever got hit with a 7.2 quake with ZERO direct fatalities.

 

[St Allie]

Here I am.. all safe and sound! Sorry to worry you.. have been a bit busy with the new job.

Auckland is built on dormant volcanoes.. so I'm more likely to be surfing a lava wave in a disaster

Wawa? they said on the news that some people in hamilton felt the quake.. did you?

Thing is Christchurch is a really unlikely spot for an earthquake.. we're expecting Napier to be the next target., so was unexpected..

People are blaming recent renewed sunspot activity for these.. My hubby was in Washington a couple of months back and while he was there they had the first ever recorded earthquake.. and washington is slap bang in the middle of a large plate.. no fault lines or anything...

The planet is being weird...

Allie

 

[Old Philosopher]

...

The planet is being weird...

Allie

Glad you missed all the excitement!
You're right about weird. I lit the first fire of the "fall" in my wood stove on the 30th of AUGUST! The lows are in the 30's when they should be in the 60's!

 

[WaWa]

Here I am.. all safe and sound! Sorry to worry you.. have been a bit busy with the new job.

Auckland is built on dormant volcanoes.. so I'm more likely to be surfing a lava wave in a disaster

Wawa? they said on the news that some people in hamilton felt the quake.. did you?

Thing is Christchurch is a really unlikely spot for an earthquake.. we're expecting Napier to be the next target., so was unexpected..

People are blaming recent renewed sunspot activity for these.. My hubby was in Washington a couple of months back and while he was there they had the first ever recorded earthquake.. and washington is slap bang in the middle of a large plate.. no fault lines or anything...

The planet is being weird...

Allie

no we didn't feel anything. But did you hear they had a 5.2 quake in Hawkes Bay today???
Apparently the West coast is due a biggy (evry 300 years apparently) chch is just the practice one!!!

 

[myakkagldwngr]

St. Allie,, I'm glad to see you finally posting. Ya had me worried for a while.
Yes, the planet is getting really crazy in the past few years. I'm 55 and can't ever remember so many Earthquakes that have been so severe so close together.
I hope all the Mayan calender talk about 2010 is just nonsense, but you still have to think.

 

[Old Philosopher]

Quakes

I've been tracking quakes over a Mag 5.0 for the past 6 years. This September is off to a big start, but September is historically the "peak" month of the year.
There has been above average activity, though, since October of '09.