2011 Christchurch Earthquake

2011 Christchurch earthquake

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

2011 Christchurch earthquake
ChristChurch Cathedral as seen by a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K Orion that conducted aerial surveillance of affected areas
Quake epicentre
Date / 22 February 2011(2011-02-22) 12:51 NZDT
Magnitude / 6.3 Mw[1]
Depth / 5km (3.1 mi)
Epicenter location / 43°36′S172°43′E / 43.60°S 172.71°E / -43.60; 172.71Coordinates: 43°36′S172°43′E / 43.60°S 172.71°E / -43.60; 172.71
Heathcote Valley, near Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand
Countries or regions affected / New Zealand
Max. intensity / MM VIII[2]
Casualties / 75 confirmed dead[3]
300 missing[3]
hundreds injured[citation needed]

The 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a 6.3-magnitudeearthquake[1] which struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand'sSouth Island at 12:51p.m. on 22 February 2011 local time (23:51 21 February UTC).[1][4] Centred close to Heathcote Valley, 5kilometres (3 mi) to the north of the town of Lyttelton,[5] the quake caused widespread damage and multiple fatalities in nearby Christchurch, New Zealand's second-most populous city.

On the day of the quake, Prime Minister John Key stated the current death toll was 65, saying that 22 February "may well be New Zealand's darkest day".[6] Early the next day the Director of Civil Defence said that 38 deaths had been fully confirmed (meaning that the bodies were identified and the next of kin informed).[7] By the afternoon of the 23rd that number rose to 55 confirmed deaths and 20 unidentified. There are unconfirmed reports that the death toll could reach 200–400.[8]Mayor of ChristchurchBob Parker says at least 200 people are believed trapped under rubble, saying that New Zealanders are "going to be presented with statistics that are going to be bleak".[9] On the morning of the 23 February the situation was declared a national emergency by the Prime Minister.[10]

Geophysics

Earthquake intensity map

The quake was the largest aftershock of the 7.1-magnitude 2010 Canterbury earthquake on 4 September,[11] although it is also a separate earthquake with its own aftershocks. Although smaller in magnitude, the earthquake was more damaging because the epicentre was closer to Christchurch, and the September quake was measured at 11kilometres (7 mi) deep whereas the more recent quake came within 5kilometres (3 mi) of the surface. The February earthquake also occurred during lunchtime on a Tuesday rather than before dawn on a Saturday, and many buildings were already weakened from the previous quakes.[12][13] The intensity felt in Christchurch was MM VIII.[2]

Casualties, damage, and other effects

The effect of liquefaction in Peterborough Street, Christchurch.

At least 75 people are confirmed dead and the number is expected to rise.[14] 55 have been named with a remaining twenty to be named; many are still injured and trapped in buildings, according to the New Zealand Fire Service.[15] At 5p.m. local time on the day of the earthquake, Radio New Zealand reported that 80% of the city had no power. Water and wastewater services have been disrupted throughout the city, with authorities urging residents to conserve water and collect rainwater. It is expected that the State of Emergency Level 3, the highest possible in a regional disaster, will last for at least five days. Medical staff from the army are being deployed.

Road and bridge damage was reported and hampered rescue efforts.[16] There were also reports of liquefaction and surface flooding.[17] Tarmac on the road was forced up by liquefaction, and water and sand were spewing out of cracks.[18] A number of cars were crushed by falling debris.[19] In the central city, two buses were crushed by falling buildings.[20] As the earthquake hit in the time of lunchbreak, some of people on the busy pavements were buried by collapsed buildings.[21]

Buildings affected

The Pico Wholefood building, earthquake strengthened in 2008, collapsed in the quake

Buildings collapsed around Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch. ChristChurch Cathedral lost its spire.[22][23] Initial reports say people were in the spire at the time of the collapse.[24] The spire's tip had also fallen in earlier earthquakes,[25] but much more fell during the February 22 earthquake.

Christchurch Hospital was evacuated due to damage in some areas,[26] but soon reopened to treat the injured. The New Zealand defence forces were called in to assist in evacuating the central business district.[27]

Oxford StBaptistChurch was one of many churches damaged by the quake.

The Canterbury Television (CTV) building was severely damaged, and police said that the damage was not survivable.[28] A CTV official announced that 15 employees were thought to be dead. [29] However, rescue operations seem to have resumed.[30]

The historic Canterbury Provincial Chambers building was severely damaged.[13][31]

The Pyne Gould Corporation building on Cambridge Terrace collapsed, and thirty of the building's two hundred workers were still believed to be trapped within as night fell. On Wednesday morning, 22 hours after the quake, a survivor was pulled from the rubble.[32]

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was also severely damaged.[33] Several other churches have been seriously damaged.

On February 23, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Christchurch's tallest building, was reported to be on the verge of collapse.[34] The 26-story building was displaced by half a meter in the quake and had dropped by 1 meter on one side. The building was thought to be irreparably damaged and have the potential to bring down other buildings if it falls. An area of two block radius had been cleared around the hotel.[35][36]

Thirteen Japanese students from the Toyama College of Foreign Languages are missing, with some feared trapped in the rubble of a building in Christchurch.[37][38]

Lyttelton

Buildings in Lyttelton sustained widespread damage, with a fire officer reporting that 60% of the buildings in the main street had been severely damaged.[39] The town's historic timeball station was also badly damaged. However no lives were believed to be lost in the town.[40]

Beyond Christchurch and Lyttelton

Around 30 million tonnes (33 ST) of ice tumbled off Tasman Glacier into Tasman Lake, some 200kilometres (120 mi) from the epicentre, hitting tour boats with waves 3.5-metre (11 ft) high.[41]

By the evening of February 22, KiwiRail reported that the TranzAlpine service was terminating at Greymouth and the TranzCoastal terminating at Picton.[17] These two services have been cancelled until at least March 1 while the tracks are inspected for damage and repaired.[42]

The quake was felt as far north as Tauranga[43] and as far south as Invercargill, where the 111 emergency network was rendered out of service.[44]

Response

Recovery and relief

RNZAF aerial survey of damage, showing flooding in Christchurch

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key stated that "All Civil Defence procedures have now been activated; the Civil Defence bunker at Parliament is in operation here in Wellington."[45] Civil Defence has alerted all Urban Search and Rescue teams in Christchurch. The New Zealand Red Cross is also involved, [46] and has launched an appeal to help the victims.[47]

The Christchurch-based national air traffic control organisation, Airways New Zealand, closed New Zealand airspace for a short time while they inspected their facilities.[48]Christchurch International Airport was closed to all but military and emergency traffic.[49] The Royal New Zealand Air Force provided an air bridge between Christchurch and Wellington using a Boeing 757 and two C-130 Hercules, bringing in emergency crews and equipment and evacuating NorthIsland residents and tourists out of Christchurch. Air New Zealand also operated extra flights operated by Boeing 747 aircraft to/from Auckland and Boeing 737/Airbus A320 aircraft to/from Wellington to move people and supplies in and out of Christchurch. The airline also offered immediate family members of casualties flights to and from Christchurch for NZ$ 50 one way from any New Zealand, Australian and PacificIslandAirport, and NZ$ 400 one way from other international destinations.[50]

The sealift ship HMNZS Canterbury, in Lyttelton harbour at the time of the earthquake, provided meals for 1,000 people left homeless in that town.

A team of 75 Urban Search and Rescue specialists from Australia was sent to Christchurch on a RAAFC-130 Hercules, arriving 12 hours after the quake, with another team of 75 sent the following day.[51] Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered John Key any other assistance he may request.[52]New Zealand Police subsequently requested 300 police from Australia for non-rescue tasks such as traffic control and to prevent looting. The contingent was formed by 200 from the New South Wales Police Force[53], 50 from the Australian Federal Police[54] and others from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia state police forces. The Australian Government has also pledged AU$ 5 million (NZ$ 6.7 million[55]) to the Red Cross Appeal.[56]

116 soldiers from the Singapore Army, in Christchurch for a training exercise at the time of the earthquake, were made available and assisted in the cordon of the city.[57][58] A team of 55 Urban Search and Rescue from the Singapore Civil Defence Force were sent the following day.[57]

The United States sent a 74-member heavy rescue team from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and 26 tons of rescue equipment.[59]

Japan sent 70 search-and-rescue personnel, along with 63 from the United Kingdom.[60]

Taiwan, Israel, Canada, the United Nations, and the European Union offered assistance.[61] Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered every assistance requested, hundreds of Canadians volunteered to go to New Zealand to assist in any way. [62]

2011 Christchurch Earthquake