Everyone down under OK after New Zealand Earthquake?

[Tlee]

Just saw this... Happened earlier today. Hope Sean (1armoured) and all our down under friends are OK:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_as/ ... earthquake

-Tim

[BCloninger]

Amen! And prayers with all involved.

[Bob259]

Talked to a friend on the North Island this AM and they are OK there, but worried as a major fault runs under them as well.

With all the volcanic activity around the 'ring of fire' and all the earth quakes there might be something to this Mayan 12/21/2012 thing after all

[Tlee]

Just saw this... Happened earlier today. Hope Sean (1armoured) and all our down under friends are OK:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_as/ ... earthquake

-Tim

Anyone else hear anything?

-Tim

[1armoured]

We're OK here in the relatively fault free North, thanks guys.

Mary no doubt has family down South.
I hope they are all OK.

This pic taken moments after the quake hit the city;
Shades of 9/11 !
The City's tallest building, on the right of picture, has suffered severe structural damage and is about to collapse.



If you go to the link, you should get a wider field of view than the forum allows,

http://burnred.squarespace.com/storage/ ... /0vZbD.jpg

Our other USA/NZ joint citizens, the Godwits, are OK.

They left Christchurch just before the quake, bound for Alaska on their 11,000 mile non-stop hike to the 49th State (and the 'lipsticked' Pit Bull territory),
God bless them !
They probably don't get to vote !

They gather on the sandbank spits, which would have been right at the quake epicentre,
and then all leave together on the longest non-stop bird migration.





Typical New Zealander spirit.
Maybe they're an inspiration to us all !

My condolences to all who have suffered,
Sean

[Bob259]

Sean, Glad to hear you and the others are OK. My friend also lives on the North Island, but said they are nervous because another fault line runs under that as well.

Likewise, my condolences go out to all who have suffered or lost loved ones.

[1armoured]

Fortunately, we live in the North of the North, away from the faults, although we are surrounded by dormant volcanoes.

One, just a few hundred years old.

The faults and thermal activity with active volcanoes run through Wellington in the South of the North Island, and the Central North Island.

The South Island fault is supposed to run through the West of centre, so it has been a bit of a surprise that Canterbury in the East has been hit.
Twice now within 6 months.

My partner was up the Cathedral tower last Sunday, sightseeing,
but fortunately returned, the same day;
There are currently bodies in there waiting to be recovered.


Unfortunately it hit in the middle of the day with offices full, and people about the sidewalks.





And another tragic sight, pancaked as it collapsed;
Our search and rescuers were still pulling out people alive after 26 hours, in the dark, under desks, and with multiple aftershocks.
Sadly a lot of people never made it, and from other collapsed buildings and falling debris in the streets.





This video shows the rescuers working inside the building, extracting a couple of survivors;


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpQR6UP5FkY



Sean

[Innocent]

Been on the road to Arab....Alabama. Havn't had a chance to check on all the family, bur have not heard anything bad yet so my prayers are out for those that have suffered. What a dissapointment to see the catherdral, such a beautiful city.

Glad to hear you are still bouncing around Sean.
Innocent