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188225
Mon, 06/13/2011 - 14:03
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http://m.oananews.org//node/188225
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50 more buildings fall in latest NZ quakes
SYDNEY (AAP) - June 13 - More than 50 buildings collapsed and there was severe disruption to electricity and water supplies in Christchurch rocked by two more quakes.
A series of powerful earthquakes, including one of 6.0, brought further destruction to the quake-scarred city on Monday.
And there could be more to come.
Despite the violence of the shakes, New Zealand's earthquake monitoring service GNS Science said they were "within forecasted range".
The government agency has warned that they will likely trigger a new cycle of heavy quakes.
"This size of events is likely to produce its own aftershock sequence, therefore rejuvenating aftershock activity at least in the short term, GNS's Kelvin Berryman told AAP.
"We would expect a number of aftershocks in the magnitude 4.0 to 5.0 range on the coming days and weeks."
Residents are still recovering from a deadly 6.3 earthquake in February that killed 181 people.
"We are in a serious situation," said Bob Parker, the mayor of Christchurch - New Zealand's second-biggest city.
National Crisis Management Centre controller David Coetzee said there were no reported fatalities from the latest tremors but at least 10 people were injured, none seriously.
The swarm of quakes caused rockfalls and sent terrified residents fleeing into the streets.
The worst-hit area was the damaged central city known as the red zone, which remains off-limits to the public following February's tremor and another 7.0 quake last September, accounting for Monday's lack of fatalities.
The Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority's demolitions manager Warwick Isaacs was in the area during the latest tremors and said around 50 buildings already weakened by earlier quakes toppled as workers sought shelter.
"They were falling into the road, literally falling around us," he told Radio New Zealand, saying it was amazing no one was seriously hurt by debris.
In an outer suburb a block of shops vacant since the February quake collapsed, as did the historic 134-year-old Timeball Station - which used to indicate the time to ships - in the port area of Lyttelton.
Elsewhere in Lyttelton, huge chunks of masonry crashed onto the street as shop facades toppled.
Power company Orion said electricity had been cut to 54,000 homes and council staff said they had lost water pressure across the city.
The US Geological Survey measured the largest tremor at magnitude 6.0, with a depth of 9km and the epicentre some 14km from the heart of the city. It hit at 2:20pm (1220 AEST).
It came just as schools were about to end for the day and was one of more than 20 aftershocks to hit the city on Monday, the first significant one a 5.2 jolt. All schools were later closed until further notice.
Prime Minister John Key assured quake-weary locals that the government remained determined to rebuild the city, which already faces an $NZ15 billion ($A11.7 billion) repair bill from the February and September tremors.
"We stand beside them, we are committed to rebuilding the city," Key said.
"Quite frankly I think they're all over this and they want the sense of normality to return... my heart really goes out to them."
The airport and central police station were among the buildings temporarily evacuated until they were declared safe by engineers.
Police urged residents to check on friends and neighbours, and to stay at home and avoid travelling if possible, but concerned locals gridlocked the roads as they attempted to reach loved ones.
"It will be a restless night," Parker warned. "It's pretty realistic to expect overnight we will have some more aftershocks.
"If you don't have power and don't have water at the moment assume you won't have them overnight."
The quakes came just hours after the opening of an inquest examining why an office block collapsed in February's earthquake, killing more than 100 people, including 65 foreign students.
When the first tremors hit around lunchtime, lawyers and relatives of those killed when the Canterbury Television (CTV) building toppled and then burst into flames on February 22 fled the venue as windows rattled.
"They're a terrible reminder," said Mike Barry, whose sister was killed in February.
The inquest was suspended twice by the ongoing earthquakes before coroner Gordon Matenga adjourned for the day then later announced the three-day hearing had been postponed until further notice.
Geoscience Australia seismologist David Jepson said people would have been quite strongly shaken after the seismic activity New Zealand's South Island had endured in recent months.
"It seems like they are going to keep happening. Since they had that really big earthquake it seems to me like it activated all these different faults. But it's just a guessing game what is going to happen next," he said.
One Christchurch city worker, who identified himself only as Bryce, said he was pleased he was about to move to Auckland.
"It's three days till I leave this earthquake-ridden town. I can't wait."
A series of powerful earthquakes, including one of 6.0, brought further destruction to the quake-scarred city on Monday.
And there could be more to come.
Despite the violence of the shakes, New Zealand's earthquake monitoring service GNS Science said they were "within forecasted range".
The government agency has warned that they will likely trigger a new cycle of heavy quakes.
"This size of events is likely to produce its own aftershock sequence, therefore rejuvenating aftershock activity at least in the short term, GNS's Kelvin Berryman told AAP.
"We would expect a number of aftershocks in the magnitude 4.0 to 5.0 range on the coming days and weeks."
Residents are still recovering from a deadly 6.3 earthquake in February that killed 181 people.
"We are in a serious situation," said Bob Parker, the mayor of Christchurch - New Zealand's second-biggest city.
National Crisis Management Centre controller David Coetzee said there were no reported fatalities from the latest tremors but at least 10 people were injured, none seriously.
The swarm of quakes caused rockfalls and sent terrified residents fleeing into the streets.
The worst-hit area was the damaged central city known as the red zone, which remains off-limits to the public following February's tremor and another 7.0 quake last September, accounting for Monday's lack of fatalities.
The Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority's demolitions manager Warwick Isaacs was in the area during the latest tremors and said around 50 buildings already weakened by earlier quakes toppled as workers sought shelter.
"They were falling into the road, literally falling around us," he told Radio New Zealand, saying it was amazing no one was seriously hurt by debris.
In an outer suburb a block of shops vacant since the February quake collapsed, as did the historic 134-year-old Timeball Station - which used to indicate the time to ships - in the port area of Lyttelton.
Elsewhere in Lyttelton, huge chunks of masonry crashed onto the street as shop facades toppled.
Power company Orion said electricity had been cut to 54,000 homes and council staff said they had lost water pressure across the city.
The US Geological Survey measured the largest tremor at magnitude 6.0, with a depth of 9km and the epicentre some 14km from the heart of the city. It hit at 2:20pm (1220 AEST).
It came just as schools were about to end for the day and was one of more than 20 aftershocks to hit the city on Monday, the first significant one a 5.2 jolt. All schools were later closed until further notice.
Prime Minister John Key assured quake-weary locals that the government remained determined to rebuild the city, which already faces an $NZ15 billion ($A11.7 billion) repair bill from the February and September tremors.
"We stand beside them, we are committed to rebuilding the city," Key said.
"Quite frankly I think they're all over this and they want the sense of normality to return... my heart really goes out to them."
The airport and central police station were among the buildings temporarily evacuated until they were declared safe by engineers.
Police urged residents to check on friends and neighbours, and to stay at home and avoid travelling if possible, but concerned locals gridlocked the roads as they attempted to reach loved ones.
"It will be a restless night," Parker warned. "It's pretty realistic to expect overnight we will have some more aftershocks.
"If you don't have power and don't have water at the moment assume you won't have them overnight."
The quakes came just hours after the opening of an inquest examining why an office block collapsed in February's earthquake, killing more than 100 people, including 65 foreign students.
When the first tremors hit around lunchtime, lawyers and relatives of those killed when the Canterbury Television (CTV) building toppled and then burst into flames on February 22 fled the venue as windows rattled.
"They're a terrible reminder," said Mike Barry, whose sister was killed in February.
The inquest was suspended twice by the ongoing earthquakes before coroner Gordon Matenga adjourned for the day then later announced the three-day hearing had been postponed until further notice.
Geoscience Australia seismologist David Jepson said people would have been quite strongly shaken after the seismic activity New Zealand's South Island had endured in recent months.
"It seems like they are going to keep happening. Since they had that really big earthquake it seems to me like it activated all these different faults. But it's just a guessing game what is going to happen next," he said.
One Christchurch city worker, who identified himself only as Bryce, said he was pleased he was about to move to Auckland.
"It's three days till I leave this earthquake-ridden town. I can't wait."
