Hoping for Rusty and his flock...

[dando]

Bad quake in NZ. :(


Civil Defence has declared a state emergency in Christchurch following today's massive earthquake.

Civil Defence told Radio NZ the state of emergency had been called.

Christchurch has been left devastated after a massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck 30km west of the city at 4.35am this morning.

The quake was at a depth of 10-12km and was centred near Darfield, and has left large parts of the area without power, water or telephones.

New Brighton and other seaside areas are bracing for possible evacuation.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671049

-Kevin

[TravelGal]

Heard about it this morning and just had time to come on to see if Rusty had checked in. He's a long way from Christchurch but he still might have felt the earth move under his feet. Rim shot. Or his bed (but we shouldn't even GO there) as it was the wee hours of the morning.

Don't mean to make light of it. Reading the descriptions, all I can think of is "been there; done that." After about the 20th aftershock, you get feeling a bit light headed. Hope everyone is okay. Fortunately no major injuries reported so far. Picking up is such a long process. They have my full empathy and sympathy.

[Methanolandbrats]

:(

[nrc]

Looking at some of the pictures of the damage it's a miracle that there weren't more casualties.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/4098121/Wake-up-New-Zealand

[dando]

New 11' fault created. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1309194/New-Zealand-earthquake-rips-new-fault-line-Earths-surface-lurches-11ft.html) :eek:


The earthquake that devastated a city in New Zealand tore open a new 11ft faultine in the Earth’s surface.

The 7.1-magnitude quake which hit Christchurch, the country’s second-largest city, destroyed about 500 buildings and caused an estimated £930million of damage.

But hundreds of lives were saved by tough building rules, it was claimed. Only two injuries were reported.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1309194/New-Zealand-earthquake-rips-new-fault-line-Earths-surface-lurches-11ft.html#ixzz0ykj801Uz

-Kevin

[Kiwifan]

Hi Team, sorry for not getting back sooner but have been on a ship up in Alaska. :-) hence no net.
Sounds like it was pretty bad but as it was early on Saturday morning not many would have been at work.
My family live in ChCh and were spared damage but their nerves are shot with so many aftershocks, some over 5.
Our warehouse where we get our shop groceries was totaled, 90 million bucks of booze on the ground. Where's Spicoli?
Thanks for your thoughts gang. Travelgal, the Cruise was awesome and LOVED the Yukon.
Writing on an iTouch is slow. Lol.
Cheers all.

Rusty.

[TravelGal]

Thanks SO much for checking in. Sorry about the booze though. That's your groceries??? :D I know what you mean about the after shocks. I wasn't kidding when I said you get queasy after so many.

[dando]

90 million bucks of booze on the ground.

:cry: :cry: :gomer:

Glad to hear everyone is OK. :thumbup:

-Kevin

[cameraman]

Best place to be during an earthquake, the other side of the planet. :thumbup:

[Gnam]

Since NZ is now 11' closer to Australia are the Kiwis feeling more Aussie, or are the Aussies feeling more K1? :gomer:

Glad to hear your family was ok. :thumbup:

[nrc]

Since NZ is now 11' closer to Australia are the Kiwis feeling more Aussie, or are the Aussies feeling more K1? :gomer:

Glad to hear your family was ok. :thumbup:

Didn't half of it go one way and the other half go the other? Better decide if you want to go with Oz or the Pacific and move to the appropriate side of the country. :D

Edit: I see it's a subduction not a separation. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07fire/background/plan/media/plates_gns.html

[TravelGal]

Yet another pair of quakes/aftershocks rocks Christchurch. 5.5 and 6.0 on Monday from what I'm reading. Rusty, I'm glad your kin got out of there. One article says parts of the center may have to be closed permanently. Maybe a bit extremely but having these 'quakes so many months apart makes rebuilding impossible. Not to mention the harm it does on the mental state of the residents. It gives me the willies and I'm thousands of miles away. :(

[Kiwifan]

Thanks Gal, I was actually thinking of you as I drove back from Dunedin yesterday. Had just finished helping the kids into their house when the quakes were felt, in Dunedin, 200 [B]miles[B] away!

Another 100 buildings in the CBD to go, one death, 56000 without power, water and sewage. Think most got their power back by last night but the other utilities are a mess. Many are still using porta loos from the Feb quake.

There were over 30 quakes above 3 on Monday alone which caused more damage to The Cathedral, Time Ball Station and obviously any buildings already stressed. I honestly don't know how they are coping.

Thanks for the heads up,

Rusty.

[TravelGal]

Many "smaller aftershocks" and one rated at 5.1 or 5.3, depending upon who's talking. After 10 PM last night. When you think you're home safe for the day. :(

[Kiwifan]

It just won't stop Gal. :(

Quick video of a hardware store on June 13th. You may want to turn the "dramatic" sound down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2WNYdW8vEo

The good news for Cam and emjaya, there's a lot more "cuzzies" comin your way. :) :)

Rusty.

[Cam]

The good news for Cam and emjaya, there's a lot more "cuzzies" comin your way. :) :)

Rusty.

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :flame: :flame: :flame: :thumdown:

[Kiwifan]

Be nice. ;) https://picasaweb.google.com/RossBeckerNZ/2011April27IntoTheChristchurchRedZone#slideshow/5602376597050171794

I'm pickin em might see more of them than you unless you are up working in the mines.

Rusty.

[emjaya]

I was just coming in to post about the Kiwi's moving over.

It's ok, QLD has already gone to the dogs with all the poms that have moved here, a few more Kiwi's won't matter. With the money the mines are paying, it's a wonder the whole country hasn't moved here.

[opinionated ow]

Rusty...please send them to Adelaide. Even the most Westie of Kiwis is preferable to the bogans of Adelaide!

[Kiwifan]

Ah crap! Three big quakes again after lunch. Some damage but no reports of serious injuries. We felt it 225km away inland and it felt in Dunedin 200 Miles away. Sounds like they were about 5.8. Two days before Christmas. :-(

[Kiwifan]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/photos/6184582/Christchurch-Earthquake-23-12

These were taken not long after the first quake.

[SteveH]

Amazing pictures. Stay safe, Rusty.

[Ziggy]

Be careful, with those aftershocks you could fall out of a sheeps ass and break something!

[Kiwifan]

Ziggy, wrong country mate, think you meant Orstralia. ;)

Apart from liquefaction again there was little damage and only minor injuries. I think everything that could have fallen down already has over the last year.

Merry Christmas to all Up North and across the Ditch.

[TravelGal]

Thanks, Rusty. And to you too, although this certainly makes the nerves raw.

[emjaya]

Hey Rusty, what's shakin'. :gomer:

You still safe?

[Kiwifan]

Still here Aussie. ;)

To be fair we are 225k away so only feel the big ones. The poor buggers had 42 shakes yesterday! I think everything that could fall down has so now they are just getting on with life. I know the utilities are really under stress up there.

[TravelGal]

Once again, I wake up to news of a 6.2 quake in New Zealand. Felt all over the country it says, but little to no damage. Except to the nerves of the residents. How are you doing, Rusty????

[Kiwifan]

They used to call us the "shakey isles" :D

Although this puppy was pretty big it was quite deep so no damage this time. Sadly there is a lot of finger pointing and blaming in Christchurch as the Inquiry starts to find out why so many people died in two buildings when many other/older buildings withstood the quakes. Christchurch as we knew it has gone....so many buildings have been torn down.

[Gnam]

The bad news just keeps coming:


Dozens of traffic signs have been destroyed by prostitutes performing pole-dances in the street to attract clients, officials in New Zealand's biggest city have revealed. More than 40 poles have been bent, buckled or broken in the past 18 months in one area of south Auckland, New Zealand, it is claimed.

The signs, bearing legally required notices such as parking restrictions, are thought to have cost ratepayers thousands of dollars to replace.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/9404669/Traffic-signs-in-New-Zealand-destroyed-by-prostitutes-performing-stunts.html

Hang in there. :D

[TrueBrit]

"More than 40 poles have been bent, buckled or broken" Sweet jeebus on a bike just how beefy were these broads?? :eek:

[dando]

"More than 40 poles have been bent, buckled or broken" Sweet jeebus on a bike just how beefy were these broads?? :eek:

Word is the UK had a women's Olympic team on a training holiday... :gomer: :p :D

-Kevin

[Gnam]

C'mon NZ read the instructions.

New Zealand: Wrong. :thumdown::D

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5943/article21749021418dbe30.jpg

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2174902/New-Zealand-traffic-signs-destroyed-prostitutes-performing-street-pole-dances.html?ITO=1490

Colombia: Correct. :D:thumbup:

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5281/slide27420285521free.jpg

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/17/pole-dancing-prostitutes_n_1680288.html#slide=285521

[Kiwifan]

Some of those Island girls are pretty big gals. I wouldn't want to get too close, either way. Lol.

[TravelGal]

Wellington airport closed today by the latest in a series of quakes off the North Island. In the article it says, "The country experiences more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which only around 20 have a magnitude in excess of 5.0." ONLY around 20???? That'll help tourism. 5.0 is a pretty good sized shaker.

Take care, Rusty. (I'm sure you're glad it's the north island for a change.)

[Kiwifan]

Thanks Gal, was thinking of you when I heard the News the Nth Island was getting a shake up. (plus I watched an episode of The Streets of San Francisco last night and thought how much the city had changed after their quakes)

Sounds like the epicentre was between the islands so although it was a pretty good rattle damage so far has been limited to things falling off shelves etc, not structural like Christchurch.

We could market the whole country under adventure tourism, who needs to pay for a shake rattle or roll when you can just walk around town. ;-)

[Kiwifan]

Geography not a strong point in schools in Vegas? :D

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8947626/Quake-in-Seddon-Australia

[cameraman]

I'm guessing that over half the US population would not be able to find New Zealand on an unlabeled globe.

[TravelGal]

I'm guessing that over half the US population would not be able to find New Zealand on an unlabeled globe.

I'm guessing you're being generous. :rolleyes:

[opinionated ow]

I'm guessing that over half the US population would not be able to find New Zealand on an unlabeled globe.

We once met American tourists at Jenolan Caves (60+km west of Sydney) who thought they'd be able to travel and see the whole country in five days; Ayers Rock (Uluru), Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. I vaguely remember them saying they were going to visit New Zealand too.

[TravelGal]

We once met American tourists at Jenolan Caves (60+km west of Sydney) who thought they'd be able to travel and see the whole country in five days; Ayers Rock (Uluru), Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. I vaguely remember them saying they were going to visit New Zealand too.

Oh, indeed. Almost every American asks me if they can drive from Sydney to Cairns, in a day. :rolleyes: I count them only slightly better than the ones who ask me if they can drive to Hawaii.

[Kiwifan]

who ask me if they can drive to Hawaii.

Seriously??? Good grief, how do keep a straight face? :eek:

[cameraman]

Oh, indeed. Almost every American asks me if they can drive from Sydney to Cairns, in a day. :rolleyes:

It's only 1500 miles. You would just have to average 62 mph on the autobahn, that should be simple as there's no speed limit and all:rofl:

[Andrew Longman]

... the ones who ask me if they can drive to Hawaii.

Stolen from Car Talk who surely stole it from someone...

A guy finds a magic lamp and rubs it. Out pops a genie who says he will grant him one wish. "I always wanted to visit Hawaii but I get seasick and I am afraid to fly. I would ask that you transport me there but I would not like to stay forever. I would like to come home. Can you build me a bridge so I can drive there and back," he asks.

The genie replies, "Geez that would be really hard. It would need to be 1500 miles long and the pylons would need to be up to two miles deep. Isn't there something else I could do for you?"

"Well..." the man answers, "Can you give me the wisdom to understand women.?"

The genie then asks, "Do you want that two lanes or four?"

:D

[TravelGal]

Seriously??? Good grief, how do keep a straight face? :eek:

The first time it happened, I was sitting next to one of the US Dept of Defense world maps. I tried to explain that all that blue they were seeing (the map is about 5 feet high and 7 feet long) was water. No go. Nada. Nothing. I think it's the astonishment that keeps you from laughing. I thought those sorts of stories were made up. Like the passenger who asked if the crew slept onboard the cruise ship. Or the woman flying to Fresno who was insulted because her baggage receipt said, FAT. Sorta like Andrew's joke (which did make chortle--a lot).

[TravelGal]

It's only 1500 miles. You would just have to average 62 mph on the autobahn, that should be simple as there's no speed limit and all:rofl:

I like it! I never considered driving at night. 24 hours of LeMarsupial. See how many you can flatten and still survive yourself. Dingo demolition derby (not that they are on the coast, of course).

[Kiwifan]

Here we go again....who wants a cheap thrill? Shake, rattle and roll! (Sorry Elvis)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9051982/Strong-quake-rocks-central-New-Zealand

[TravelGal]

Here we go again....who wants a cheap thrill? Shake, rattle and roll! (Sorry Elvis)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9051982/Strong-quake-rocks-central-New-Zealand

One woman said she felt a bit queasy. I felt a bit queasy just reading it. I had just seen a nice pic of the cardboard cathedral in Christchurch and then this. Makes it seem like an especially good idea. :(

[Kiwifan]

Doesn't sound like much damage in Wellington apart from a bit of stock loss from supermarkets and the like and a few windows have blown out. The good news as compared to Christchurch was the quake was 10km down not 5km although a 6.2 is a pretty big shake no matter where you are.

Take care all,

Rusty.