Christchurch, New Zealand

[carholme]

As we have a few boaters from New Zealand on the site, I hope that all are safe in the aftermath of the recent earthquake. Sincere best wishes all who have lost people or property.

Regards

Gerry

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

I couldn't agree more, Thoughts and Prayers

Lipp

 

[JB]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

I visited Christchurch (in uniform) in 1956. A beautiful town (I didn't see it as a city). I could not have been more warmly welcomed or well treated by the natives if I had gone home.

I sincerely hope that if John and Helen Hamilton and family are still there that they have suffered no loss. They took me for a picnic in the mountains which is among my most treasured memories.

 

[rbh]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Thoughts and prayer to the people on the south island that are dealing with this.

Thank god the niece lives on the north island.

 

[Autotech]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Rob: my neighbor 2 doors down had just arrived in NZ for a vacation they had been planning for 2 years. He finally got an email out today that they are all right. but their Hotel is gone along with all their clothes. Stayed last night in a shelter an a lady came from the hotel (I Think)got them from the shelter and took them to her home to use the computer. He is trying to buy a small used car to get out of the city. also said the after shocks were just about as bad.

 

[gibletts]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Your neighbours may be lucky, the airport reopened this morning for domestic flights and the airlines have been ferrying out stranded visitors to Wellington and Auckland.

 

[Autotech]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Thanks Gibletts
We will keep NZ in thoughts and prayers.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

A Kiwi poster on another forum where I'm a member has posted some information and some news stories.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?146699-Another-huge-earthquake-in-Christchurch-NZ

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/chr...170/Christchurch-quake-toll-75-dozens-missing

The first footage that came out is quite frightening. Very good reporting. I think there were 2 separate journalist (quite separate) who just happened to be 'on the spot' with their camera-men - in different parts of the city. Watching their footage is chilling.

We now have the Aussie channels in there and their footage is pretty crxp - highly edited, repetitious, and generally important channel image-ego, non-stop speculation. You know what I mean.

The 'stills' are good.

Wife and I left Christchurch in 1988.
Wife was raised about 45m south, and when she left the farm, went to Christchurch and bought a home. Later we met and lived there.
It was an older home (c1908), a timber villa, quite close to the city centre (66 Cleveland St. I can't get a recent picture on google earth.)
I had a commercial premises and business in the city (Armagh St) but sold out to developers and the built a highrise (Bank) there.
I think I saw it on TV - all the windows gone.
What we see on TV we know very well. Where we dined out - drank - theatre etc.

Wifes cousin and husband are ok. Their area (Parklands ?) is suffering major liquefaction. Her daughter and husband have major damage/loss of their home.
Can't get thru to my ex business partner.

Elderly MIL lives 45 miles south and ok. Says she is terrified of the shakes (been going since Sep 2010). When the wind blows a certain direction, she can hear the empty grain trucks (truck and dog - alloy bins) and they rumble, and she is confused - is it another big shake or just trucks. Has the house set up with a heavy table under a double doorway (lounge-dinning room) and gets under there. Says it's hard at her age.

Brother further south is fed up. Their business building is double brick and would go in a direct hit. Their house is modern and up to standard.
Wifes SIL works for PGG (has done for 25yrs in a rural area) and goes frequently to their multi-story that pancaked . Wasn't there that day. They estimate 200 may have been in there and still not sure as to how many are lost.
The CTV building. Can't remember have may stories (5 or 10) - it is just a pile of rubble.

Christchurch is a mess. Looks like being the biggest disaster NZ has had. 75 dead, 300 unaccounted for. That may not mean much tho.
Mainly the older buildings made of brick.
Their highest (hotel - 24 story ??) building has sagged in one corner and dropping - they believe it will collapse and twist - that is going to look spectacular.
All the camera crews are waiting and they think if it goes one way, it may take out a block or 2 - like cards. We'll see.

The city has no sewage, power or water and roads are real bad. That liquefaction really finish's them off.

Anyway, we no longer live there and home is now here.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Forgot to mention about specialist rescue teams.
New Zealand is well set up in this area, but to assist;

There is a US team on it's way.
Aussies have 2 teams here.
Japan and Taiwan have teams on way too.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

My condolences go out to those that have lost family and friends. Lets hope that rescuers can get to those that are trapped in time.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Boy....'down under' is definitely getting a 'down under' year. We get a lot of news around this and it looks pretty bad. Hang in there guys.
BP

 

[rbh]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Rob: my neighbor 2 doors down had just arrived in NZ for a vacation they had been planning for 2 years. He finally got an email out today that they are all right. but their Hotel is gone along with all their clothes. Stayed last night in a shelter an a lady came from the hotel (I Think)got them from the shelter and took them to her home to use the computer. He is trying to buy a small used car to get out of the city. also said the after shocks were just about as bad.

Morning Bobby,
I bet the neighbours will be happy when this holiday is over.
I have never been in an earth quake that did anymore than rattle the dishes, and do not want to expierence anything larger.



Kiwi Phil, the liquidfaction that they are talking about, is this due to Christchurch being built on a low plains area IE a river delta???

We have had two minor quakes up here ( Vancouver/Victoria BC ) in the last few weeks and they are predicting that we are over due for our 300 year big one.

Hold on tight BP

 

[gibletts]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch is low lying and flat, its sits on a loess soil, which is made up from river gravels and ancient glacial deposits, as such doesnt have much cohesion and susceptable to liquifaction if givel a bit of a shake.

This is a real weird photo that is doing the rounds, apparently taken just after the quake looking down on the city from the Port Hills area.

http://i.imgur.com/0vZbD.jpg

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

Kiwi Phil, the liquidfaction that they are talking about, is this due to Christchurch being built on a low plains area IE a river delta???

The area is very flat, and i believe a drained swamp, but that is only what I have heard thru the media, so couldn't vouch for accuracy.
I have never seen this stuff before.
I understand (may be wrong here) that when the earths surface cracks this stuff comes up with water, and spreads over everything, then the water drains away leaving cake-like black sand-silt. Sort of like major flooding.

My wifes house in Christchurch all those years ago had a 1" gal pipe coming out of the ground with a garden tap on it. Turn the tap on and out came clear water. It was artesian apparently - no pump - very shallow - just ran by itself. Point is, the water table is not far under the surface there.

That is a strange photo there. Is that dust or smoke?

Cheers
Phillip

 

[gibletts]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

To add a bit more to what phill said and liquifaction, if you imagine a chunk of dirt looked at microscopically it is made up of a whole lot of little solid particles and in between them are voids filled with air or water. Normally gravity, and friction between the solid particles holds this matrix together ie we have a solid chunk of dirt. However during a earthquake the pore water pressure in these voids can spike and cohesion is lost between the solid particles ie turns to a liquid - hence the term liquifaction. More cohesive soils such as clays etc are less susceptable, but sandy soils like thay have in ChCh get nailed by it.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Christchurch, New Zealand

A little bit of news.
Remember, I am in a different country and only relaying on what I have been told.

Took 5 days to get in touch with wifes niece and husband (young couple, first house etc) (family knew they were ok but no great detail).
QC - he is the guy that works (diesel mech) for Caterpillar- was in Melbourne - now in Christchurch

House is very badly damaged. They hope it won't be condemned.
All the doors are jammed.
Power cables were ripped out and they won't re-connect till doors operate properly - in event of fire from damaged wiring etc, no means of exiting. Whole area the same.
He has generator on truck so cut out interior doors that were jammed closed.
Major liquifaction in back yard, which is drying out and causing major dust problems.
No water. Army got armour (APC's) thru giving out bottled water in early days.
Yesterday went to Oxford to friends for first wash/shower (in 5 days) and to get clothes washed too.
Can't secure house.
Road seem as though they have been ploughed up in their area, and they drive as snails pace. Quicker walking to shops - if they have anything.
Won't drive at night as can't see the cavities.
Modern phones are useless - they found an old landline one they had that gets power off the wall connection.Neighbours are using theirs now. Most digital things ??? Mobile phones useless - towers out - can't charge batteries.

Upright Freezers are completely useless apparently. Open the door, cold falls out, everything melts. Chest freezers are brilliant.

He has generator on truck going for an hour in the morning and an hour at night (his truck is a field service unit for Caterpillar - I suppose) so neighbors plug in freezers, phones etc. Fuel is a big problem.

Once they get out of their immediate area, things are a little better.
Things are improving though. They want to go back to work (she a RN) to overcome the boredom.

She tells wife they are absolutely sick of the fear. This shows them and each earthquakes detail. You won't watch it all as it will drive you nuts!
http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/

I spoke to my old business partner D. there on friday. They are ok, damage to the house too, but nothing like the nieces. He had a lot of fine china, porcelain, pictures etc and lost most of it this time. He says he is fed up too.

I see there is even a Rescue Team from China. That is amazing, that the Chinese made the offer, and that NZ accept it in a blink - not one question asked. That's the way the world should be.

LipCJ7 - in answer to your question - we are on a hill in Queensland - everything is fine - only problem I have is a shortage of income for a few weeks following the 'no output' during the floods.
We just stopped spending.
Plan B is drawn up in detail and ready to go, and plan C, well I need more time to get organised. That is not going so well.

Must away. Got a grade 12 assignment on the go I am probably not meant to be partner too.

Cheers
Phillip

Cheers
Phillip