Another huge earthquake in Christchurch NZ

[45 Below]

Thoughts and prayers please. There has been a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch. It was only 6km deep and about 10km from the city centre. There has been massive damage with buildings down and there must have been loss of life - probably extensive.

Although the earthquake they had in September was 7.1 this one has done much more damage because it was so shallow and so close - and of course many buildings have been weakened by the earlier quake and the hundreds of aftershocks that have followed.

I have family up there. My oldest daughter is there. The place she rents is a mess but she is ok and my wife's parents are all right but there will be many devestated families as this all unfolds.

One of the TV networks has been shooting live and it is gut wrenching to watch.

[cheeseczar]

Thoughts and prayer from here.
Keep us informed!

[JMFVET]

+1

[45 Below]

They are talking multiple fatalities. Many cars and even a bus buried under rubble.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4688231/Death...stchurch-quake

[indyracefan]

I hate hearing this. Thoughts and prayers your way 45-below. Best of luck to you, your family and your countrymen.

[R22]

oh mannnnnnn, not again. sending them up.

[skypigeon]

CNN just now reporting it and apparently confirming your fears, 45 below. Prayers up.

[doitagain]

They are talking multiple fatalities. Many cars and even a bus buried under rubble.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4688231/Death...stchurch-quake

Devastating

Thoughts and prayers... this was the first I'd heard.

[Gomer Simpson]

Glad to hear your family is okay, though.

[roach]

Unbelievable!

(WARNING!!! - Video is graphic in places!)

[R22]

re: the youtube video above....... how does one "prepare" for such a thing? it's beyond my imagination to understand what all the volumes of emotions and thoughts those people must be going through. what if something like that would happen to my hometown? or a big city like dallas while i was there working? just saddness......

[nzirl]

thoughts with everyone down there. its surreal seeing the footage on tv.

[comfortably numb]

All my thoughts are with you.
Nothing prepares you.
No broadcasts...
No sirens...
Just hope.

[Coyote]

Best wishes and thoughts from here as well.

[Jack Harrington]

45 below: My thoughts and prayers are with you'll...I've already seen the film clips and pictures...NASTY...

[DavidM]

45 below thoughts and prayers to your family and evryone in Christchurch. Sorry to hear that you are all going through this again so soon after last years quake.

[racer x-f1]

Thoughts and prayers to all of those affected. The video is shocking.

[Indy kiwi]

45, glad you are yours are ok. My family are all in HB so well away from the affected area. Most devastating earthquake in NZ since my hometown was destroyed in 1931.

[45 Below]

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers to the people of Christchurch - it has been a surreal time.

It is a city I know well. My mother was a Christchurch girl and I have cousins there but they all seem okay. We had some anxious moments because we didn't hear from the husband of my wife's sister for several hours. It took him ages to make his way home through the chaos. The roof of their house has collapsed.

My wife's younger brother and family have also had to abandon their home, while his restaurant, which survived the first quake and had been doing very well in recent months, looks to be wrecked.

Both couples and their four children have moved in with my wife's parents who are in a part of the city which fortunately still has power and water.

My mother-in-law is a nervous wreck. Being a former nurse she did a tremendous job on the day of the September quake of looking after the 'old folk' in the neighbourhood (she's in her mid-70s herself) but five months of constant aftershocks and now this big one has been too much for her. They are going to come south and stay with us away from the shaking, although yesterday's 6.3 was felt here, 225 miles away.

At least they are all alive. There are many tragic stories of loss. We all knew the September quake would take a long time for the city and its people to get over but this is just a whole new ball game on a whole different level.

If you are wanting to follow the story this is one of the better NZ news sites.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/

[45 Below]

Latest figures say 55 bodies identified, 20 unidentified and 300 people missing.

[45 Below]

They have just found an area of a badly collapsed building where 15 people are trapped. They are painstakingly lifting away debris to try and reach them without the remainder of the building coming down on them.

[Turn13]

I heard tonight that Indiana's former Senator Evan Bayh and his wife Susan were both in Christchurch and several miles apart at the time of the quake, but they have found each other and are both okay.

[Turn13]

They have just found an area of a badly collapsed building where 15 people are trapped. They are painstakingly lifting away debris to try and reach them without the remainder of the building coming down on them.

Hope they get them all out safely and soon.

[45 Below]

It now turns out someone got that story very wrong. They now have little hope of finding anyone still alive in the rubble. There has been fire and they think that anyone who survived the quake has probably been asphyxiated.

There is now a 26-storey hotel in danger of collapse. according to news reports it has slumped three metres in just five minutes.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/chri...ndreds-missing

[MethanolBuzzed]

My thoughts and prayers to you and all of New Zealand 45 Below.

[turnrightgoleft]

It now turns out someone got that story very wrong. They now have little hope of finding anyone still alive in the rubble. There has been fire and they think that anyone who survived the quake has probably been asphyxiated.

There is now a 26-storey hotel in danger of collapse. according to news reports it has slumped three metres in just five minutes.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/chri...ndreds-missing

Hang in there Mark, we are thinking of you guys. Very glad your daughter is okay. Are there any relief organizations you recommend for donations?

[marc sproule]

The lead story on the front page of our local paper today was the earthquake. Accompanying it was a photo that caused me to do a double take. It was eerily similar to what I saw downtown here after our quake in '89.

My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones or are suffering.

I hope the worst is over.

[45 Below]

Hang in there Mark, we are thinking of you guys. Very glad your daughter is okay. Are there any relief organizations you recommend for donations?

Thanks TRGL.

I know the Red Cross is pretty active in Christchurch at the moment and I guess that being an international organisation you could make donations in the US and ask them to earmark it for Christchurch.

[turnrightgoleft]

Thanks TRGL.

I know the Red Cross is pretty active in Christchurch at the moment and I guess that being an international organisation you could make donations in the US and ask them to earmark it for Christchurch.

Thanks, I've been doing some checking and they haven't set up a donation site yet at the ARC. The New Zealand website is unavailable.

Our prayers are with you and your country.

[45 Below]

Thanks again for your efforts. I know your Government has offered support and I understand a specialist Urban Search and Rescue team arrived this morning and is joining others from Australia, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore.