Christchurch Press Image: John Kirk-Anderson 2010:09:16 14:57:16

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Under pressure, reporter Charlie Gates, in the newsroom at the Novotel Hotel".

The Earthquake Worms

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated photograph of twisted reinforcing rods amongst the rubble from the demolition of QEII. The photographer comments, "These rarely seen worms live in the pressurised earth under the foundations of buildings. They need a damp soil and be under at least 100 pounds of pressure per square inch. After the destructive force of an earthquake they swiftly rise to the surface through gaps in the rubble. Unfortunately they quickly die and then crystallise as hard as iron in the dry low pressure air".

A Quake Shake

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Two aluminium drink cans which have split open. The photographer comments, "We had around 24 cans of diet coke in the top of the fridge when the devastating 6.1 earthquake hit Christchurch in New Zealand. The shaking caused one of the front feet of the fridge to fold, which made the fridge tip forward and causing the door to open. After all the shaking the cans had already when they flew out and hit the ground a lot of them exploded. These two cans show the explosive pressure that occurred best".

Remember Not to Let Things Get on Top of You

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A broken window at ground level has building rubble behind it, some of which has been pushed out through the broken glass. The photographer comments, "The alternate title is 'Under Pressure'. A bulldozer must have pushed earthquake debris up against the internal wall not realising there was a glass reinforced window at ground level".

Earthquake Contortions

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The badly twisted Medway Street footbridge. The photographer comments, "The September 4th 2010 earthquake in Christchurch was so violent that the banks of the Avon River moved towards each other. This footbridge being metal had to twist sideways to release the pressure of being pushed from both river banks. It looked like it had been wrung out like a wet towel".