New Zealand earthquake - 65 dead so far

[Steve-O]

Christchurch has been hit again, real carange this time as it struck at lunchtime.

If anyone knows Christchurch, even the cathedral in the central city has fallen.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4688231/65-dead-in-devastating-Christchurch-quake

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12533722 - unbelievable pictures here...bear in mind this is right in the centre of the city.

[Iain G]

Christchurch has been hit again, real carange this time as it struck at lunchtime.

If anyone knows Christchurch, even the cathedral in the central city has fallen.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4688231/65-dead-in-devastating-Christchurch-quake

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12533722 - unbelievable pictures here...bear in mind this is right in the centre of the city.

Hey mate, its just unreal and horrible and incredibly sad, I was down there this time last week as I'm workign on some of the rebuilding stuff, was staying in a hotel on the square, and to see those photos just now, it hasn't quite sunk in yet. I fear its going to be a truely awful day for this country and not sure how Ch'ch recovers from this one.

[Jay]

Shocking stuff - horrible news to wake up to. I have a friend in NZ on hol just now. I'm sure she is fine but cant wait to hear from her.

[DaveF]

I just caught a clip on the news of some of the footage and it's slightly surreal.

People running in the street as bits of buildings crash down all around them.

Almost like watching a hollywood movie but in real life.........

[Steve-O]

It's bizarre being so close to it all to be honest.

Been watching it on the news for about the last 3 hours as well as reading about it all day.

The hotel where my parents stayed when they came to visit is on the verge of collapse (it's 26 floors high!) and a hostel I stayed in 2 years ago to the exact day of the quake is basically wrecked.

Also looking dodgy for hosting any Rugby World Cup games now - Scotland are due to play Argentina there. Apparently the pitch has all rolled up and cracked and could be out of action for at least 5 months. Not to mention all the accommodation options that have crumbled and will no way be ready for September.

To put it in perspective I'd say Christchurch is a similar size to Edinburgh and the equivalent is the likes of Princes Street and the surrounding areas being totally destroyed.

[HarpyHibby]

I have family in Christchurch and thankfully they are alright, just pure luck none of them were killed by it! their house is on the outskirts and that's fine but their business had been completely destroyed!

[Iain G]

It's bizarre being so close to it all to be honest.

Been watching it on the news for about the last 3 hours as well as reading about it all day.

The hotel where my parents stayed when they came to visit is on the verge of collapse (it's 26 floors high!) and a hostel I stayed in 2 years ago to the exact day of the quake is basically wrecked.

Also looking dodgy for hosting any Rugby World Cup games now - Scotland are due to play Argentina there. Apparently the pitch has all rolled up and cracked and could be out of action for at least 5 months. Not to mention all the accommodation options that have crumbled and will no way be ready for September.

To put it in perspective I'd say Christchurch is a similar size to Edinburgh and the equivalent is the likes of Princes Street and the surrounding areas being totally destroyed.

I think they have bigger worries than the Rugby, there is no water or sewerage to a lot of the city, and the devastation is huge, not to mention the damage to the actual ground with liquifaction and the likes. What was a 5 year rebuild of a lot of homes and houses from September is now a 10 to 15 year rebuild of a whole city, it's a big task...

[Steve-O]

I think they have bigger worries than the Rugby, there is no water or sewerage to a lot of the city, and the devastation is huge, not to mention the damage to the actual ground with liquifaction and the likes. What was a 5 year rebuild of a lot of homes and houses from September is now a 10 to 15 year rebuild of a whole city, it's a big task...

Maybe so, not disputing that, but it's something that will have to be thought about fairly shortly since people are booked to go there from all over the world.

I definitely have my doubts that Christchurch will now have any involvement in the World Cup, which is pretty sad.

[jakki]

I've been trying to get in touch with internet friends in Christchurch. Finally they were able to post on the web site that they were safe but their house was tilting and that there was "liquidation" in the garden.I don't know what that means but I'm so glad that they survived.

We moan about rain and snow but should be lucky that we don't have earthquakes, tornadoes,hurricanes etc

[cabbageandribs1875]

i have relations on both islands, the cousin in the south island said new zealand gets 14,000(yep fourteen thousand) earthquakes on average per year, of which approx 20 can be pretty destructive, although not as destructive as this one obviously.

[Steve-O]

I've been trying to get in touch with internet friends in Christchurch. Finally they were able to post on the web site that they were safe but their house was tilting and that there was "liquidation" in the garden.I don't know what that means but I'm so glad that they survived.

We moan about rain and snow but should be lucky that we don't have earthquakes, tornadoes,hurricanes etc

It's 'liquefaction'.

It's where mud and stuff comes to the surface from under the ground, as seen in this picture -

http://www.digitaljournal.com/img/8/4/7/1/2/1/i/8/4/3/p-large/IMG_6825.JPG

[Steve-O]

i have relations on both islands, the cousin in the south island said new zealand gets 14,000(yep fourteen thousand) earthquakes on average per year, of which approx 20 can be pretty destructive, although not as destructive as this one obviously.

It sounds like it's completely normal, but I've only felt 2-3 quakes in 3 years of being here and they have been very minimal. One jolt almost had me running for the door but it was over before it started really.

Most of them are at such a depth that they can't be felt. This one in Christchurch was only 4-5km under the surface which is extremely shallow.