this wasn't here when we left

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Laura and Max return to Christchurch from their holiday in California and inspect the earthquake-caused sand volcano in their front lawn.

Sand volcanos cover Rydal Street

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

This has made a huge mess for the residents to clean up. I heard on the news that homes have been damaged by subsidence in areas of earthquake-caused liquefaction like this.

Aftermath of earthquake - shops

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Aftermath of September 4th Earthquake in Canterbury. Shops on Colombo Street in Christchurch. The initial 7.1 quake has been followed by around 1590 aftershocks recorded to date - causing further damage to already weakened structures.

Aftermath of earthquake - shops

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Aftermath of September 4th Earthquake in Canterbury. Shops on Colombo Street in Christchurch - damaged in earthquake and then partially demolished to reduce risk from unstable materials which might otherwise be dislodged in strong winds or subsequent aftershocks. The 1590 aftershocks recorded to date have continued to cause further damage.

sand volcano tours

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Yes, it was a joke. The tours, that is, not the yard filled with earthquake-caused sand volcanos. They were very real. You can see one covering the driveway in this photo. The signs read as follows. "Tours run 1/2 hourly. $5.25 admission. Eftpos unavailable." "If you think this is bad... you should see the back!"