A chaplain spoke, then the two minute silence followed, broken only by a solitary police radio. A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake pummeled central New Zealand early on Monday, killing at least two people, damaging roads and buildings and setting off hundreds of strong aftershocks. Among the many other individuals and groups who offered a range of practical and emotional help were chaplains and churches, embassy and consulate staff, the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission, and the New Zealand Red Cross through its Bereaved Families Programme. Among these was Shag Rock/Rapanui (the great stern post) at the entrance to the Heathcote and Avon estuary/Te Ihutai at Sumner. Liquefaction – ‘a liquid mush’ of soft sand and silt which had wrecked building foundations, ruptured water and sewer pipes and shattered roads, footpaths and driveways in September – struck the city again. Many were students learning English at King’s Education in the CTV building. The sight of them, faded, ripped and broken in some places really got to me. Apart from physical injuries, international literature suggests that psychosocial recovery after a disaster can take five to ten years. While making a number of recommendations for each service, an independent review of Civil Defence’s Emergency Management response concluded that over the first 24 hours they had coped in a ‘commendable and on many occasions courageous’ fashion with demands that far outstripped their resources. In an interview published in the New Zealand Herald two days after the quake, Carter noted that ‘The job had its dangers, and it was scary being trapped inside a collapsed building when the aftershocks struck’ – but ‘he preferred to focus on the potential rewards, rather than the risks of what they were doing’. It’s a sad sight, but it did feel good to be able to say goodbye to it before anymore of it goes and I think that’s where I’ll leave this. The 2010 Canterbury (Darfield) earthquake (Te Ara), The 2011 Christchurch earthquake (Te Ara), The shaky isles: Canterbury & other quakes (MCH), Wellington and Christchurch's earthquake risk (Te Ara). In exceptional cases it has taken years to identify all the victims of mass casualty events. Culture and Society A large aftershock on 13 June 2011 caused considerable damage, especially to sewerage infrastructure. Ambulance officers and patients were able to tell us snippets about collapsed buildings, fires, crushed cars and buses, etc. Earthquakes can affect us in various ways, such as death and injury, disease, disruption to services and amenities and general disruption of people's everyday lives. A public holiday was declared for the Canterbury region to enable as many people as possible to attend the service. The 22 February 2011 earthquake caused 185 fatalities, injured 3,129 people, and 1,293 were injured in the aftermath. It was heavenly. In our language we think language has some sort of spiritual power so I yelled my daughter’s name so it might reach my daughter who was 9000 km away. Economic Impacts (long-term) To rebuild what was once can get quite expensive, so some owners decide to just demolish and re-sell the land to a potential buyer; The income may get lost in the rubble; Economic Impacts (long-term) Landscapes, such as forests rivers or cliffs, will get damaged, injuring or … 1, January 2014, p. 81. Then a large aftershock hit and the entire block of houses leapt and bucked in the air and people were screaming in fear and anger. The streets were filled with liquefaction and dazed people. Two days after the earthquake: The building hadn’t been checked and the power was still out, so we moved a desk out to the car park, found pen, paper and the Medical Centre stamp, and the doctors were able to do prescriptions, chat to people and reassure them. I did that several times. Some families voiced criticism of the time it took to name victims. Sarb Johal, from the Joint Centre Disaster Research Centre at Massey University, presented two linked papers that explored the long-term recovery processes for healthcare providers and the communities they serve in the aftermath of the earthquakes that occurred in 2010/11 in Christchurch – New Zealand’s second most populous city. Inner Core The inner core is the centre of the earth; it is made up of iron and nickel compounds that are solid due to extreme heat and pressure. Then we made our way to one of the stairwells and set off for the ground. Professor Hattie was the adviser for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority that oversaw school examinations after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes of 2011. They included national and international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, many of whom did not reach the city until after all the successful rescues had been completed. In March 2011, Police Superintendent Sam Hoyle asked for ‘patience and understanding’: We are acutely aware that families want their loved ones returned, particularly our guests from overseas, and our teams are working flat out to achieve this. A feature on the post-2011 recovery of the Canterbury region will appear on NZHistory in due course. I did not need psychological help. The emergency lighting had failed in the stairwell, so we could barely see the steps in front of us. In the short term, however, the need for emergency repairs to heating systems has meant that legislation to prosecute those using polluting older wood burners and open fires has been temporarily relaxed for earthquake damaged homes for the winter of 2011.7 Prepared by Environment Canterbury and Community and Public Health. There is a case study sheet students can then complete which summarises this information. 48, no. Many who encountered the worst scenes in the CBD, at the Canterbury Television (CTV) and Pyne Gould Corporation (PGC) buildings, did whatever they could. Each organisation was flooded with 111 calls for help from the CBD and suburbs on top of business as usual – and staff also needed to look to their own families. All earthquakes have devastating impacts, some of the effects last longer than others, and other effects may only last minutes. Dislodged boulders, collapsing cliffs, landslides and failing fill and retaining walls damaged properties and infrastructure on and below the Port Hills. http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/183/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/105/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/247/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/159/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/98/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/187/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/394/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/488/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/446/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/53/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/301/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/100/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/126/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/185/story/, http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/255/story/, http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/27378, https://ccdu.govt.nz/projects-and-precincts/canterbury-earthquake-memorial, http://www.healthychristchurch.org.nz/media/100697/allrightresearchsummary.pdf, The 2010 Canterbury (Darfield) earthquake, The shaky isles: Canterbury & other quakes, Wellington and Christchurch's earthquake risk, Canterbury earthquakes and recovery information, http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/publications/Review-CDEM-Response-22-February-Christchurch-Earthquake.pdf. While most came from the east coast of the South Island, there were a number from the west coast and the lower two-thirds of the North Island. The vast majority of formal identifications were completed within four weeks of the quake, and the last on 27 July 2011. Clock stopped after February 2011 earthquake. We are following international best practice standards and have some of the most experienced DVI specialists in the world working with us. We walked down the road, to see the site slowly revealed. A further series hit the region on 23 December 2011. Teachers were sitting and cuddling several children at once, trying to comfort them. This article was written by Imelda Bargas and produced by the NZHistory team. Where did you put MY city?’…, Then, of course, was the cathedral. I have several personal reasons for that, but the cathedral feels different. Obituaries of the 185 people killed in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Martin van Beynen, Trapped: remarkable stories of survival from the 2011 Canterbury earthquake, Penguin, Auckland, 2012, G. Dellow et al., ‘Landslides caused by the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and management of landslide risk in the immediate aftermath’, Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, vol. While most people sought out friends and family after they had helped those around them, some stayed where they were for many hours providing assistance. In a way it was really nice, in light of the news this week about the cathedral’s partial demolition, and the unexpected complicated swirl of emotions that brought up in me, to be able to get close to it and take a picture. Search and rescue efforts were eventually scaled back and replaced by the search for and recovery of remains. This is painstaking, exacting work and the reality is very different from how it looks in television programmes such as CSI. It wasn’t like riding big waves, or being blown around in a high wind. By 12.51 many were at friend’s houses, shops or food outlets. I just didn’t like the feeling of the aftershocks. The remains of the four ‘unfound’ victims were interred at a special site in Avonhead Park Cemetery in February 2012. Business owners trying to get back on their feet were among those who felt that it was too soon for such an event, but thousands turned out for it. It was a sad day, and a challenging day but I’m glad I did it.http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/183/story/. I grabbed my handbag, mobile phone and keys (running quickly inside to get these, then straight out again) and we [my mother-in-law and I] started walking to school (I could already see that driving would be a stupid idea, as there were cars everywhere). Some parents had more difficulty reaching their children. Some contributors to QuakeStories initially thought this was yet another one: At first I thought that it was just another aftershock, but when the power went out and the room felt like someone had picked it up and was bouncing it around, I realized that I needed to get under my desk, which was unfortunately a very thick wooden one. Among many notable moments during the service, compelling footage of damage in the CBD was screened, the crowd spontaneously applauded the USAR teams, and Prince William conveyed words of wisdom from his grandmother, the Queen: ‘grief is the price we pay for love’.[6]. One elderly man was holding up a photograph, possibly of his daughter. As a comparison, the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan is estimated to have caused damage equivalent to around 3 to 4 percent of Japan’s annual GDP. In 2012, the Reserve Bank concluded that Canterbury’s economy had proved ‘reasonably resilient to the impact of the earthquakes’, and that ‘the spill over to other regions’ had been limited. As in September, most of these people were injured during the primary earthquake, for example by tripping or falling. The region also lost a number of its distinctive natural features and landmarks. Whereas an estimated 31,000 tonnes of silt was cleared in Christchurch between September 2010 and February 2011, 397,025 tonnes was removed between February and June 2011. Those who lost their lives in the quake have been honoured in a number of ways. Liquefaction happens when underground water in the soil comes to the surfac… Want to share your experience of the February earthquake? WELLINGTON — The earthquake that shattered the New Zealand city of Christchurch last month will cost the country as much as 15 billion New Zealand dollars … In 2016 work is under way on a Canterbury Earthquake Memorial which will be dedicated on 22 February 2017. Canterbury has also been affected by adverse weather … Wilson, D. Bristow, M.Gallagher, S. Giovinazzi and C. Brown, ‘Liquefaction ejecta clean-up in Christchurch during the 2010–2011 earthquake sequence’, NZ Society for Earthquake Engineering, 2012 Conference, paper no. We returned to Latimer Square, expecting the silence to be called within the camp itself. For example, the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 resulted in closure of the Central Business District (CBD) for an extended period of time. 3 000 buildings in total were inspected, of that total 45% were deemed unsafe and were given a yellow or red sticker. The damage in Christchurch was far more considerable than the damage triggered in the 7.1 earthquake only 5 months previously. Despite the valuable contribution of volunteers and the NZDF, there was enormous pressure on the city’s dedicated emergency services – Police, Fire Service and St John Ambulance – in the immediate aftermath of the main shock. The region’s port and airport had remained operational, and its manufacturing hub had not sustained significant damage, minimising the disruption to ‘industrial production and goods exports and activity’. All the cellphone lines were out of action so it was hard to contact my family. This site is produced by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Landscapes, such as forests rivers or cliffs, will get damaged, injuring or killing the wildlife. 1–7, M. Villemure, T.M. The Press inserted a notice for the colleague they had lost: A special friend and loyal member of our team, Loved and sorely missed by her friends and colleagues at The Press. Rossiter, ‘An overview of the impacts of the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes’, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015, Pete Seager and Deb Donnell, Responders: the New Zealand volunteer response teams, Christchurch earthquake deployments, Keswin Publishing, Christchurch, 2013, Janet K. Spittlehouse, Peter R. Joyce, Esther Vierck, Philip J. Schluter and John F. Pearson, ‘Ongoing adverse mental health impact of the earthquake sequence in Christchurch, New Zealand’, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, vol. I’d forgotten, even though I had seen pictures, that the lanterns which had been put up for the lantern festival the weekend after February 22nd were still there. People lost energy immediately. Volunteers helped clear up the silt left behind from liquefaction. It seemed like just the shaking itself was physically painful, and the noise was incredible, deafening, like nothing I’ve heard or could compare it to.http://www.quakestories.govt.nz/100/story/. 185 people were killed in the February earth quake and thousands more were hurt. The city also faced a new problem. The number of student visas for the Canterbury region dropped by 37% – around 3300 individuals – in 2011. Health workers in the city faced ‘substantial difficulties’ in caring for the injured. The atmosphere was sombre and subdued. Not all comments posted. Over 50% of the city's buildings were damaged. The bus stopped at three points along the way (the sites of the PGC building, the CTV building and the cathedral) but at the other two I felt like it wasn’t right to take pictures. We were also set up with a water tank, which gave us a supply inside the building, bypassing the mains supply. It is expected that any damage caused to the rivers by siltation during the earthquakes, or sediment removal activities in lower reaches, will not have long-lasting effects on fish and invertebrates, provided mitigation measures are followed Between 2011 and 2013, birds died due to avian botulism. Me and Phoebe just stood there in shock wondering what to do next. Fires can start caused by heavy friction or gas pipes leaking, leading to explosions, Coastal earthquakes can have tsunamis as an after-effect, Natural or man-made landmarks of significance may be lost. Most serious was the loss of electricity at the region’s only acute-care hospital, Christchurch Hospital. The portaloo was needed, along with a chemical toilet, for four long months. In a blog written two days after the quake, Jennifer reflected on the likelihood she would know someone who had died: I’ve heard (either directly or indirectly) from all my close friends and most of my workmates now, so know they’re ok, but I also know the chances are, in a city of only half a million, that all of us will end up knowing someone who is a victim. I had a television on the wall and could see outside. Do so here. 131. Already subdued by the experience, it was about to take another turn! February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. There's been some frankly bizarre talk about the earthquake being an economic boon for the country. We ask for your patience and understanding while our large team continues to work through this difficult and complex job. People and wildlife may get injured or killed, Homes of both people and wildlife may get damaged or destroyed, Water pipes might break, infecting the supply of water, if homes are deemed unlivable owners or renters are forced to be moved or re homed, in big open spaces such as parks or refugee camps, The businesses that are effected by the earthquake may be damages or even destroyed, Damages and/or destroyed businesses are easily stolen from, To rebuild what was once can get quite expensive, so some owners decide to just demolish and re-sell the land to a potential buyer. Despite being ‘compromised’, Christchurch Hospital was able to continue to provide care, with the support of other hospital and primary care facilities. 4, December 2011, 'Review of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Response to the 22 February Christchurch Earthquake', Civil Defence, David Johnston et al., ‘The 2010/2011 Canterbury Earthquakes: context and cause of injury’, Natural Hazards, January 2014, Ian McLean et al., Review of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Response to the 22 February Christchurch Earthquake, June 2012: http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/publications/Review-CDEM-Response-22-February-Christchurch-Earthquake.pdf, Miles Parker and Daan Steenkamp, ‘The economic impact of the Canterbury earthquake’, Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bulletin, vol. 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