Taken as the severity of the situation began to sink in to most of the people wandering around. Police, Fire and other emergency personal showed a fantastic response to how they dealt with the situation they had.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Maling Street in Avonside. From left: Tamatea Briggs (12), Ngarita Briggs (8) and Walton Briggs sit under a makeshift shelter while they wait for a wood fire to boil water".
A helicopter from Christchurch flies over New Zealand looking for somewhere to rebuild but everywhere are notices referring to fires, floods, oily beaches, volcanoes and geysers, quakes, landslides. Nowhere seems to be safe. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A bit of the now demolished QEII (Queen Elizabeth II) Park running track in the "Gap Filler" on the old Deka site in New Brighton (last occupied by a charity barn before a major fire and subsequent demolition).
A photograph of local musician Gemma Syme playing an instrument constructed from empty fire extinguisher canisters, at Sound Garden. Sound Garden was a Greening the Rubble project created by local artist-musicians and launched as part of FESTA 2013.
The cartoon is a spoof of Rodin's famous sculpture 'The thinker' and shows it with a globe for its head. It holds a newspaper that reads 'Massive 'quake in Japan - ChCh. 'quake, China 'quake, Aus. Floods fires etc. etc.' The thinker ponders 'What's with all these disasters?..' Context - The massive earthquake in Japan that led to a devastating tsunami and now threats from several damaged nuclear power stations, the earthquakes in Christchurch on 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011, the 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Yingjiang County, southwest China's Yunnan Province on March 15, 2011, and the January floods in Queensland, Australia, as well as bush fires on the outskirts of the Western Australia capital Perth. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "2010 Canterbury Earthquake. Spencerville Civil Defence organised a community get together, to boost community spirits. Rylee Hunt (8) gets a spray from Shae Coghlan (5) with the help of Matt Lewis from Brooklands Volunteer fire brigade".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Maling Street in Avonside. From left:Charlie Tarawa, Tamatea Briggs (12), Ngarita Briggs (8) and Walton Briggs sit under a make shift shelter while they wait for a wood fire to boil water".
Oxford Terrace Baptist Church on the corner of Madras St and Oxford Terrace, and alongside the Central City Fire Station on Kilmore St. The organ pipes have been saved and safely removed into safe keeping by the South Island Organ Company.
Personnel from the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) photographed in front of the collapsed Smiths City car park on Dundas Street.
A photograph submitted by Anonymous to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "Our chimney was capped the day after the September Quake. This little fella served as our chimney for two winters until an expert came along and disconnected our gas fire.".
Cracking below the window of the former Lyttelton Fire Station and Public Library. The photographer comments, "The building at 2 Sumner Road has been sadly damaged by the quake. I was unsure of its future, but now this building has been demolished".
Water from the river at high tide crosses Evans Avenue and enters a now abandoned "red zone" house via the garage. Next door (to the left) is the garage containing a car that was destroyed by fire last week (see earlier photos).
A banner on the fence of Burwood Primary School expressing the student's appreciation for the efforts of the civil defence, fire service, volunteers and council workers with a banner on their school fence. On each heart-shape note is a personal message from the students.
A photograph of a man playing a musical instrument created from empty fire extinguisher canisters, at the launch of Sound Garden. Sound Garden was a Greening the Rubble project created by local artist-musicians from recycled materials. It was launched as part of FESTA 2013.
Various walls on the street of Christchurch have become public art spaces. This work, "The Phoenix", by professional graffiti artists, Jacob, aka Yikes, Nick, aka Icarus and Wongi includes a fire Phoenix and the words "Christchurch destined to rise". Above it is an advertisement for Phonequip.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Prime Minister John Key, centre, visited Christchurch after its 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 04:35 Saturday morning. Mayor Bob Parker, took him on a tour of the city which was punctuated by a fire breaking out in a building on Worcester Street".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Crowd shot of firemen from all over Canterbury who were awarded by the New Zealand Fire Commission and New Zealand Government for their service during the Canterbury earthquake crisis. The event was held at the Hall of Flame at Ferrymead Heritage Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Prime Minister John Key visited Christchurch after its 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 0435 Saturday morning". Mayor Bob Parker, at left, took him on a tour of the city which was punctuated by a fire breaking out in a building on Worcester Street".
The entrance to 'Camp Hollywood', the American Civil Defence Force headquarters in Latimer Square. After the 22 February 2011 earthquake, emergency service agencies set up their headquarters in Latimer Square.
The entrance to 'Camp Hollywood', the American Civil Defence Force headquarters in Latimer Square. After the 22 February 2011 earthquake, emergency service agencies set up their headquarters in Latimer Square.
Shovels and wheelbarrows sitting in Burwood Park near students from the University of Canterbury who are enjoying a barbeque. The students have volunteered to dig up liquefaction as part of the Student Volunteer Army.
A photograph of the USAID headquarters in Latimer Square. A sign above the entrance to the camp reads, "Must wash hands". Whiteboards placed around the entrance read, "Please wash hands before taking food".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Maling Street in Avonside. From left: Tamatea Briggs (12) and Charlie Tarawa under a makeshift shelter while they wait for a wood fire to boil water. They are too scared to go in the house so are sleeping on the lawn".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Prime Minister John Key, centre, visited Christchurch after its 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 04:35 Saturday morning. Mayor Bob Parker, facing at left, took him on a tour of the city which was punctuated by a fire breaking out in a building on Worcester Street".
Prime Minister John Key preparing for a photograph with members of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) outside the US headquarters in Latimer Square.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Maling Street in Avonside. From left: Charlie Tarawa, Tamatea Briggs (12) sit under a make shift shelter while they wait for a wood fire to boil water. They are too scared to go in the house so are sleeping on the lawn".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Maling Street in Avonside. From left: Charlie Tarawa, and Ngarita Briggs (8) sit under a make-shift shelter while they wait for a wood fire to boil water. They are too scared to go in the house so are sleeping on the lawn".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Maling Street in Avonside. From left: Charlie Tarawa, and Ngarita Briggs (8) sit under a make shift shelter while they wait for a wood fire to boil water. They are too scared to go in the house so are sleeping on the lawn".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Maling Street in Avonside. From left: Charlie Tarawa, and Ngarita Briggs (8) sit under a make shift shelter while they wait for a wood fire to boil water. They are too scared to go in the house so are sleeping on the lawn".