New Zealand Earthquake - new 2/21/11 (threads merged)

[Ozzisk8tr]

There is a major fault line that runs directly down both islands if I remember correctly.

[JasperBoy]

That's terrible. Christchurch is a beautiful city.

[barbk]

Whoops -- I think that the posts starting with #11 ought to be moved to the current earthquake thread -- this thread was started to cover last fall's big earthquake. Mods - can you snip and pin?

[Ozzisk8tr]

17 confirmed fatalities so far. Many still trapped under collapsed buildings.

[Ozzisk8tr]

65 confirmed dead so far. This is so sad.

[AragornElessar]

I just checked the LOTR MB I belong to, and one of my NZ friends over there said things are so bad due to how many buildings were damaged in the Earthquake that happened a few months ago. As he put it, the first one produced hairline cracks in the foundations of so many buildings, so when this one hit, since those cracks were already there everything just fell apart.

We're hoping our Members/Friends in the Christchurch area are okay, but w/the state everything is in right now, we don't know when we'll get word. It goes w/out saying I'm hoping for the same w/our FSU NZ Members.

Such a gorgeous Country and People. ((((NZ))))

[Eden]

Saw the reports about the earthquake, and it was so sad to see it

[flyingsit]

(((NZ))) Christchurch is beautiful. I read that the spire of the cathedral toppled into the square.

[Ozzisk8tr]

Trapped Australian woman calls outside world from her cell phone:

"I'm trapped under a desk, I can't get out, it's dark, I'm bleeding, and I just don't whats going on out there," Mrs Voss said.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/821...z-quake-rubble

[Garden Kitty]

Prayers for all the affected people. So sad.

[genevieve]

Trapped Australian woman calls outside world from her cell phone:

"I'm trapped under a desk, I can't get out, it's dark, I'm bleeding, and I just don't whats going on out there," Mrs Voss said.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/821...z-quake-rubble

That interview is so disturbing. They know she hasn't contacted rescuers but keep her on the line. I hope they made efforts to contact her family once off the line. I'm also amazed at how calm she was. Hope there's a follow up and we see her out safe.

[Ozzisk8tr]

That interview is so disturbing. They know she hasn't contacted rescuers but keep her on the line. I hope they made efforts to contact her family once off the line. I'm also amazed at how calm she was. Hope there's a follow up and we see her out safe.

She was just interviewed on the news here, still trapped. She sounds incredibly strong and said she was determined to see this through. She said she knew people were on a mission to rescue her and she was determined to survive, although earlier she had thought of "throwing in the towel". I think she will become one of the heroes of this terrible disaster. My heart goes out to the hundreds of missing, and especially their families and loved ones.

[Satellitegirl]

Hoping my online friends in NZ are safe.

[Garden Kitty]

One of the NZ cyclists just tweeted this link to some reports:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4689...tness-accounts

Some photos as well

[Buzz]

The pictures from the disaster are so terrible! Heard two buses were crushed by a falling building. My thoughts, prayers and condolences to the people of Christchurch.

[numbers123]

the pictures are incredible. And the damage seems so random - buildings that appear undamaged next to buildings that crumbled.

[skatefan]

Very sad news for New Zealand

BBC evening news is currently reporting that shallow tremors such as this one are much more dangerous than deeper ones (this one was three miles below Christchurch) and the relatively soft rock underground magnified the shaking. Guy from British Geological Survey saying that this fault, and the one which caused last year's earthquake, was not previously known to geologists, and probably hasn't moved for tens of thousands of years.

[Rex]

So sad.
What is causing the floods?

[ice dance]

So sad.
What is causing the floods?

Liquefaction.

[genevieve]

So sad.
What is causing the floods?

I think it's from water pipes that have been detroyed/broken

ETA: ^ this was from some photo captions. I'm sure there is also liquefaction, but some of the water looks pretty clean and pooled.