A photograph of emergency management personnel crossing the intersection of High, Colombo, and Hereford Streets. In the background is the earthquake-damaged Fisher's Building. Large sections of the top storey have collapsed, the masonry spilling onto the footpath and damaging the awning.
A photograph of an earthquake-damaged building on St Asaph Street. The top of the side walls have collapsed, the bricks and other rubble spilling onto the driveway and footpath below. Emergency tape has been draped over the driveway as a cordon.
A photograph taken from a corner of the Barbadoes and Worcester Streets intersection. On the opposite corner a brick building has collapsed, crushing three parked cars. To the right a rural fire van and a fire truck are parked on Worcester Street.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Kenton Chambers on Hereford Street. The bottom right section of the building has collapsed, the bricks and other rubble spilling onto the footpath below. Large cracks have formed between the windows of the building.
The Manchester Courts building was a heritage building located in central Christchurch (New Zealand) that was damaged in the Mw 7.1 Darfield earthquake on 4 September 2010 and subsequently demolished as a risk reduction exercise. Because the building was heritage listed, the decision to demolish the building resulted in strong objections from heritage supporters who were of the opinion that the building had sufficient residual strength to survive possible aftershock earthquakes. On 22 February 2011 Christchurch was struck by a severe aftershock, leading to the question of whether building demolition had proven to be the correct risk reduction strategy. Finite element analysis was used to undertake a performance-based assessment, validating the accuracy of the model using the damage observed in the building before its collapse. In addition, soil-structure interaction was introduced into the research due to the comparatively low shear wave velocity of the soil. The demolition of a landmark heritage building was a tragedy that Christchurch will never recover from, but the decision was made considering safety, societal, economic and psychological aspects in order to protect the city and its citizens. The analytical results suggest that the Manchester Courts building would have collapsed during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and that the collapse of the building would have resulted in significant fatalities.
Civil Defence staff walking down Durham Street, a fire engine behind them. Beside them, the damaged Provincial Council Legislative Chamber can be seen. The building's roof and walls have collapsed, as has the scaffolding that had been erected to repair it after the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
A sign outside the Croydon House Bed and Breakfast Hotel on Armagh Street reading, "Don't touch this lady without owner's permission". The east side of the building has collapsed, the bricks falling into the neighbouring property. Tape reading, "Restricted area, please keep out" has been placed around the property.
A member of the New Zealand Police with a skateboard extracted from the collapsed Canterbury Television Building on Madras Street Behind him, emergency personnel can be seen searching the rubble for trapped people. Above the workers is the arm of an excavator which has been used to shift rubble.
A photograph of the largest section of the Townsend Telescope recovered from the rubble of the Observatory tower. The telescope was housed in the tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. It was severely damaged when the tower collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Workers building a facade on a damaged building on Lincoln Road, soon to be The Pedal Pusher Bar and Restaurant. To the right, another shop has also partially collapsed, the debris falling onto the footpath in front. Wire fencing has been placed along the road as a cordon.
A photograph of an earthquake-damaged suitcase in the South Quad of the Christchurch Arts Centre. The suitcase is resting on a pile of scaffolding which had been constructed around the Observatory tower. The scaffolding collapsed along with the tower during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of St John's Anglican Church in Hororata. The spire of the church, which partially collapsed in the 4 September earthquake, has been boarded up in order to protect the building from rain. This photograph was modelled off an image taken by BeckerFraserPhotos in October 2010.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house in Christchurch. The front and side of the house has collapsed, the bricks and other rubble spilling onto the garden, exposing the rooms inside. Emergency tape has been draped across the front of the property as a cordon.
A house in Christchurch with a red sticker on the window indicating that it is unsafe to enter. "No entry" and a large cross have also been spray painted on the front fence to warn people off. On the right side of the house, a tarpaulin can be seen covering a collapsed brick wall.
The bell tower of St John's Anglican Church in Hororata. The top of the tower has collapsed, and many of the bricks have crumbled along the side into the roof of the church. A skip has been lifted up by a crane next to the tower with a man inside.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a building in central Christchurch. The basement of the building has collapsed and the concrete blocks have broken away from each other. The left corner of the building has also suffered damage, with many of the concrete blocks shaking loose.
A photograph of the McKenzie & Willis Building on the corner of High and Tuam Streets. The right side of the building has collapsed and steel bracing is being used to hold up the rest. Large piles of rubble and shipping containers can be seen in front.
Damage to the front of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The upper part of the corner structures have collapsed, and the cross on the roof is on a lean. A statue of the Virgin Mary can be seen in a window. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD. Catholic Cathedral, Barbadoes St".
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the buildings next to the Canterbury Trade Union Centre on Armagh Street. The front walls of both buildings have collapsed, and bricks spill onto the footpath. Cordon tape and road cones have been placed around the buildings.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the buildings next to the Canterbury Trade Union Centre on Armagh Street. The front walls of both buildings have collapsed, and bricks spill onto the footpath. Cordon tape and road cones have been placed around the buildings.
A photograph of St John's Anglican Church in Hororata. The spire of the church, which partially collapsed in the 4 September earthquake, has been boarded up in order to protect the building from rain. This photograph was modelled off an image taken by BeckerFraserPhotos in October 2010.
A photograph of St John's Anglican Church in Hororata. The spire of the church, which partially collapsed in the 4 September earthquake, has been boarded up in order to protect the building from rain. This photograph was modelled off an image taken by BeckerFraserPhotos in October 2010.
A photograph of a detail of the front of Christ Church Cathedral. A stained-glass window remains intact despite the collapsed stonework that surrounds it. The upper part of the front wall has crumbled. Steel bracing has been placed against the wall to limit further damage.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house in Christchurch. The front and side of the house has collapsed, the bricks and other rubble spilling onto the garden, exposing the rooms inside. Emergency tape has been draped across the front of the property as a cordon.
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street, severely damaged after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The domes on either side of the Cathedral have collapsed and are lying in the area in front. To the right, a crushed car can just be seen.
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street, severely damaged after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The domes on either side of the Cathedral have collapsed and are lying in the area in front. To the right, a crushed car can just be seen.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team walking across Manchester Street. In the background is a block of earthquake-damaged buildings. Large sections of the buildings have collapsed and the rubble has spilled onto the street below.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a block of buildings on Hereford Street. Large sections of the buildings have collapsed and the rubble has spilled onto the footpath and street in front. USAR codes have been spray-painted on the front of Calendar Girls.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church. The middle section of the church has collapsed and the roof is now resting on a pile of bricks and other rubble. The front and back walls of the church are still standing.
A photograph of a member of an emergency management team walking down Cashel Street. In the background is a crushed van, piles of rubble from earthquake-damaged buildings, and partially-collapsed scaffolding. Wire fences have been placed in front of the buildings as cordons.