Christchurch, NZ: Earthquake.

[daveh]

It has just been on the news here about a severe earthquake in the South Island city of Christchurch., New Zealand. I trust our Kiwis and their families are unharmed. Reports talk of more than sixty dead.

[mickeyobe]

I echo Dave's sentiments.

It is, indeed, tragic what has befallen that beautiful land.

Mickey

[nikonbob]

Same here, I hope all is well with our members down there.

Bob

[herron]

I hope all is well with our friends in NZ. My son and his wife just spent three weeks there. In fact, they were en route home when the quake hit. Didn't know about it until they landed.

[Deleted]

Hope everyone down there is OK. Sounds like a bad quake. Our thoughts are with you.

W.

[olroy2044]

I've just been watching the coverage of the quake. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hope all our members are safe. Roy

[Doug T.]

I just heard about the Quake in NZ. and am saddened by the losses.
We will pray for you, and help if that's possible.
Doug

[photax]

Just heard in the news, there are more than hundred people still missing. What a tradgedy, my thoughts are with them.

MIK

[Randy]

This is awful, do we have anyone from NZ here?

[nikkortorokkor]

As one of, I think, two Kiwis in the group, thank you for your thoughts.

I am now in the North Island and John is in Dunedin - both well away from the epicentre. I trust that John is safe at home.

It was surreal switching my car radio on after work yesterday and realizing that the feed was live and not a rerun of September's quake. it was a worrying drive home to call my mother and check that she came through OK. She is shaken but otherwise well. Luckily her house is located 30km north of the city, while the quake was centred 8km to the south, on the pretty port town of Lyttelton.

Two 60s low-rises have pancaked; both Cathedrals have suffered major destruction and the city Baptist church, a neo-classic brick structure which I cycled past every day for 2 years has completely gone. The city will never look the same again. Death toll is fluctuating - just as I remember it doing in NY after 9/11. I worked in Christchurch for many years and know all the locations that you are seeing on TV footage. It suddenly makes one feel very mortal and, indeed, fragile to see death and destruction in one's 'home territory'.

Something which may chime with you all here, some of the buildings I planned to photograph on my next trip south have now gone.

Thanks again for your thoughts,

Michael.

[Just Plain Curt]

Hopefully everyone is OK and healthy. Crazy world weather, earthquakes, tsunamis, unrest everywhere. Never really hits home till it affects someone you know. Sure wish the best for all involved and hope things get better.

[vintageslrs]

Michael--Glad to hear you are well.
My heart goes out to the less fortunate.....
Who else is a member here from NZ?

Bob

[SidW]

Terrible tragedy and a relief to know that Michael and his family are safe.

[John Farrell]

Hi there - I live in Dunedin, a long way from Christchurch, but we felt the earthquake here. My wife has family there, and they are all ok, but some have damaged houses.
A team from my work (a large hardware store) are going to Christchurch tomorrow to help clean up a store from the same chain that was badly damaged, and flooded - liquifaction caused ground water and sand to come up.

[vintageslrs]

Hi John

Glad you are OK......hope your wife's family makes out OK.
Sounds like a terrible mess.


Bob