Christchurch , NewZealand earthquake. (2 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

I was in that very Cathedral in Christchurch just about a year ago. It somehow seems unreal to see it in it's current state of dis-repair on TV. Thanks everyone for your kind wishes - it does mean a lot to those people camping out in tents, cars or other people's spare rooms that others around the World are thinking of them at this time. Word gets round very quickly - and when your up against things - it is good to know others care. Thank you. johnnybach

 

[Rob]

Have been seeing reports all day, the damage looks very bad and extensive, I understand there is a curfew because of looting?. Sending you all our prayers and best wishes.

Rob

 

[Desertkiwi]

I was in that very Cathedral in Christchurch just about a year ago. It somehow seems unreal to see it in it's current state of dis-repair on TV. Thanks everyone for your kind wishes - it does mean a lot to those people camping out in tents, cars or other people's spare rooms that others around the World are thinking of them at this time. Word gets round very quickly - and when your up against things - it is good to know others care. Thank you. johnnybach

Yes the Cathedral is very badly damaged and it appears around 20 persons have been crushed to death there; a number of overseas tourists are still mising, including 15 Japanese exchange students who are believed trapped in one of the many collapsed buildings.

Specialist rescue teams from Australia, Asia, UK and the US are beginning to arrive now which is fantastic.

People are still being pulled from buildings, so hopefully we'll see many more survivors over the coming days.

Big after shocks are continuing, and several large building are very close to collapsing in and around the CBD.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

 

[lancer]

How are our Kiwi friends doing? The story is off the front page over here but the last article I read said there were 160 dead, confirmed. How about the missing? Is the overall damage in Christchurch as bad as the initial pictures showed? Sorry about all the questions, I'm just hoping NZ is recovering. -- Al

 

[Desertkiwi]

How are our Kiwi friends doing? The story is off the front page over here but the last article I read said there were 160 dead, confirmed. How about the missing? Is the overall damage in Christchurch as bad as the initial pictures showed? Sorry about all the questions, I'm just hoping NZ is recovering. -- Al

Hi Lancer,

Thanks so much for asking about the quake. Yes sadly things are still very grim in ChCh. The confirmed death toll currantly stands at about 160, however there is still many persons missing and recovery is extremely slow due to the continuing after-shocks and the state of the collapsed buildings.

There are about 100 overseas persons/tourists missing, presumed dead from all over the globe. The unoffical death toll is estimated now to be around 240, with many others badly injuried. Although many buildings/houses have not collapsed (yet), they are so badly damaged that they will have to be demolished.

Civil Defence have now stated that some persons will never be positively indentified.

The country has really pulled together over this disaster and we're so very very thankful for all the help and support we've been receiving from our friends overseas.

The combined Urban Search & Rescue teams from Asia, Aussi, UK, the US and from a heap of other countries has been simply awesome! A special thanks must go to our Aussi cousins for all the staff they have sent over.

I've got no idea how this quake has been reported overseas, but its just nice to know people care.

Once again many thanks.....Toddy

 

[breslau]

It was great news to hear this morning that no one else was found dead in the Cathedral. Will the Cathedral be re-built or will it have to be demolished?

 

[Desertkiwi]

It was great news to hear this morning that no one else was found dead in the Cathedral. Will the Cathedral be re-built or will it have to be demolished?

Hi Breslau, the experts seem a little unsure at this stage whether it will be a rebuild or repair, either way it will be fixed. Yes great news that no more bodies were found in the Cathedral, which to be honest was a big surprise, based on eye witness accounts.

On the down side the CBD will be closed now for months and the PM has announced that its looking like around 10,000 homes will have to be demolished and some suburbs may never be built on again, due to the unstable land. This has come as a huge blow to residence.

Toddy

 

[lancer]

Glad to here about the cathedral being empty of victims. Sorry to hear about the houses lost and hope rebuilding can take place for those who lost and may have to lose their homes. Hang in there, Kiwis. -- Al

 

[breslau]

Just watched a replay of today's New Zealand Memorial Service. It was most moving.

Great to see Prince William visit Christchurch to pay respects for the nearly 200 who died in last month's earthquake and the mining town of Greymouth, where 29 miners died late last year.

Kia Kaha Christchurch!

 

[Mitch]

I thought it was good he visited the scene and, hope they can rebuild what they can. Its going to take a long time and be hard so my best wishes go to the people affected
Mitch

 

[lancer]

How about an update from our Kiwi friends? How is Christchurch and New Zealand recovering from the quake? I know CC suffered heavy damage so where are the displaced residents staying? Hope all is getting better. -- Al