Christchurch Earthquake.

[hellc@mst]

Please spare a thought for the people in Christchurch, NZ. They have been hit by a serious earthquake at lunchtime today when the office blocks were full of workers. 65 confirmed deaths and hundreds of people still missing and unaccounted for.

My wifes parents had flown to Christchurch this morning on their way to Ashburton for a friends wedding. We have been unable to contact them as the phones are down and mobile towers have been destroyed.

[dominosarah]

So devastating.......

[vicki595]

Just horrible...

[hellc@mst]

103 confirmed deaths including a 5 month old baby girl and a 9 month old baby boy killed by a falling, wall mounted, television. The official death toll is expected to double over the next few days as urban search and rescue teams abandon their rescue efforts in favour of recovery operations.

Over 200 still missing and unaccounted for. It is believed that 20 people have been buried(presumed dead) amongst the rubble of the Cathedral which is a well known city icon. 15-20 Japanese students in an English language school (presumed dead) but not included in the official death toll until retrieved and identified. 1 Australian national has been confirmed amongst the dead but this number is expected to rise given that there are over 8000 Australian tourists in Christchurch on any given day.

40% of the city still has no power and 80% of the city have no running water. Fresh water has to be shipped in by rail or supplied at mobile Army desalination plants at Brighton Beach and Lytleton Harbour. There is no working sewerage and sanitation which has doctors concerned about a possible outbreak of hygiene related illnesses

An unprecedented volunteer army has been mobilised including 5000 Canterbury University students. St Johns and the Salvation Army have flown in volunteers from all over the country in addition to the NZ Army in the CBD and surrounding suburbs and Navy ships in Lytleton Harbour. The CBD has been cordoned off and millitary LAVs are patrolling the cordon perimeter to deter looters and criminal opportunists. It is sad to imagine criminals exploiting the vulnerabilities of a city in complete dispair. 300 Australian police officers are expected today to help augment our overwhelmed national Police force.

Air New Zealand( our national airline) have offered heavily discounted airfares for people who want to help or fly people out who can not bear to stay in their city for another depressing day. People throughout the country have offered to billet Christchurch residents who need a break but have nowhere to go.  Compassionate flights have been organised so people from anywhere in the world, who have relatives in the affected area, can fly into Christchurch for less than $300NZD

Early estimates of the financial costs are in excess of 16 billion dollars. That equates to $4000 for every man, woman and child in the whole country. Of course, re-insurers will bear the burden for a large part of this sum but it is still crippling for such a small country

Luckily,I have managed to contact my friends and family living there but all of them have been severely affected by the quake from the destruction of their homes and businesses to the deaths and serious injury of their extended family members/friends and work colleagues.

Thanks for all your kind words and thoughts.
Regards Jeremy

[narla]

Still in dis-belief at what has happened to our nearest neighbours,our news is televising 24/7 about what is happening over there.my daughter has holidayed in New Zealand twice and loved the country and the people,many of her friends are from New Zealand.

Our prayers and heartfelt wishes are with all New Zealanders at this tragic time

God Bless

Denise

[Punkinhead75]

Glad to hear your in-laws are safe.  Thoughts and prayers going out everyone in New Zealand.

[hellc@mst]

Heard from the In laws late last night. They are safe and well and managed to escape to Ashburton where the damage is limited. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

The international community has been great. A team of Australian rescuers has already arrived and 300 NSW police officers are due to arrive shortly. Teams from Japan, the US, Taiwan and the UK are also expected to arrive within the next 24 hours.

[addict3]

Jeremy,
Sending you well wishes from the U.S. The news reported jere that this was an aftershock from a previous quake.

All of New Zeland is in thoughts and prayers here in the U.S.

I hope your family is O.K.

[vicki595]

Jeremy--Have you heard from your in-laws????  This is horrible...

I just heard on the news that the US is sending a crew of people to Christchurch from Los Angeles. It's a search and rescue mission. I hope they get there quickly...

[trdofbeingtrd]

I am wishing and hoping for all the best in this tragedy.

[laurel453]

i am reading the news about it just now, terrible...so many dead...hope your wife's parents are allright, Jeremy

[narla]

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in New Zealand,
It was a devastating earthquake,the coverage on live TV was hard to watch.
It seems a lot of buildings impacted,and it was during the lunch time rush at 12.55pm New Zealand time.

I hope the death toll doesn't rise