Christchurch Earthquake

No water, no power for Christchurch and Canterbury after an early morning earthquake magitude 7.1 at 10km deep some 30km west of Christchurch, New Zealand. The earthquake hit at 4:30am - but so far lots of damage to some older buildings and wide spread loss of power and water and possibly sewerage.

The epicentre appears to have been near Darfield. The shake was powerful enough there to throw adults to the floor. There is significant damage to particularly older buidlings in the centre city which have lost chimmies and facades. Newer building seem to have stood up well - a good mark for New Zealand's strict earthquake building standards.

It was a calm and cold night - there is snow on the ground at Darfield - the forecast is calm, fine and cold. If you don't have an alternate source of power you are going to be cold.

Reports of many after shocks - sharp jolts still being reported at 8:30am. Many 1930/40s chimmnies are being reported as down - though some of the Victorian buildings seem to have reported. The latest after shock was just after 2pm

People are checking on each other, sharing water and checking on their neighbours.

A number of people have been in both - and are saying that the Christchurch quake was stronger and laster longer than the SF.

Reports from the center city The Hermitage, opposite Christchurch - had TVs falling and rooms swaying. Residents seem to have spontaneously evaculated the hotel. As soon as another aftershock hit they ran outside again.

Got to say - that's not sensible - unless you believe the building is on fire your best chance at earthquake survival is to stay inside a building and  seek shelter under a large piece of furniture, or a doorway and (literally) hand on. 

Sand Volcanoes Being Reported in Christchurch

Damage to the water pipes seem to be because of so-called sand volcanoes - - underground liquifaction has forced many pipes to the surface probably causeing the loss of water. There has been significant damage to some local sewerage pumping stations - although power is returning fairlly quick it seems that water and sewerage may take some more time.

Those with minor injuries are being advised to go here - not the hospitals - which although operating are overwhelmed obviously.

What Should You Do If You are in the Christchurch

What you should be doing:

Dig a hole in the backyard for a toilet.

Have you got drinking water - conserve water in toilet cisterns if not.

Have you got a gas BBQ or camping stove to heat water? Residents in some areas are being advised to boil water for at least 3 minutes before drinking it.

New Zealand's National Emergency Centre
The centre under the Beehive in Wellington is now coordinating - though I for one would like to know why it took about 3 hours for the centre to be powered up - and even longer for a National State of Disaster to be declared.

I live in New Zealand but not in Christchurch - and it was Saturday morning so I didn't come online until about 8:30am - only to see that my European friend Hospitalera had left a skype message asking if I was OK as there had been a New Zealand earthquake. Check out her hub which includes her thoughts about hubbing and blogging about currrent events. Its exactly the same dilemna that reporters have always had - do you report ie do your job or do you help - frankly I couldn't be on the ground in a major catastrophe and be sitting and blogging about it (even if I had power and Internet - which is unlikely).

Fortunately in this case it looks like no one died and there are only 2 serious injuries reported (both from falling masonary).

Local Media Reporting on the Christchurch Earthquake

When I wanted to find out what was happening in Christchurch - I turned on the National Radio - who had dropped their normal Saturday program and had several reports on the scene - they still maintain a news room there. TV1 was managing some reportage but not much - it was repetative and they were reporting "breaking news" which had been on radio an hour earlier. It seemed that they had to have a talking head on show at all times - which was limiting them obviously. TV3 only managed coverage up until 9am and then resumed the advertorials for Saturday am!

So for actual news:

1st- National Radio

2nd Twitter