
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Members of the Blackwells family watch as their Kaiapoi landmark store is pulled down after the earthquake - the store was deemed too dangerous and demolition started immediately".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Landmark Kaiapoi store, Blackwell's department store, is pulled down after the earthquake - the store was deemed too dangerous and the delicate demolition started immediately".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. Wayne Alexander has now lived through 3 earthquakes with a richter scale of 7 plus. 1968 Inangahua, 1989 San Francisco and 2010 Christchurch. His father also lived through three of the same magnitude. Wayne and his son Lochlan Alexander (2 yr). They live in one of the old Deans family residences, which sustained chimney damage in Saturday's earthquake".
An infographic explaining the structure and funcion of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA).
Two years on from the February earthquake, tourism is in Christchurch is recovering - slowly.
The memorial to Robert Scott in Christchurch
Some residents in one of Christchurch's worst affected suburbs doubt a new government agency will help their earthquake recovery. An announcement about a new department is expected within days but some of those still severely affected question the setting up of a new bureaucracy.
Monday's 10 year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that took the lives of 185 people in Christchurch, will be marked with a special service near the city's earthquake memorial. Large crowds are expected from half past twelve this afternoon on the lawn just across the river from the memorial wall. Among those speaking is the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern. A message from former mayor, Sir Bob Parker, will be read out. Sir Bob, who led the city through one of its most challenging periods, recently suffered a major stroke and heart attack. The names of the 185 who died will be read before a minute's silence at twelve fifty one, the exact moment the quake struck. Flowers will then be laid at the memorial wall.
A motion-blurred photograph of houses, with the Port Hills in the background. The photographer comments, "This I hope gives you a feel of what it feels like in an earthquake. When you spend your whole life thinking that you and your home are built on solid ground, it can be quite a shock when you find it is not. You can feel the house shaking like a dog with a toy, rising up violently underneath you or the most gentle form which is when the ground moves gently like a wave moving under a rowing boat. It is not just the movement, you often get a rumbling sound which can precede a violent shake or can result in no movement at all. This means that some vehicles can sound like the rumbling initially and in the early days would get your heart racing. Another form of stress is when big excavators as heavy as a tank move as you can feel the ground shake from streets away, but you do not always hear the engine. For most of us the problem when the shaking starts, is wondering if this is the start of an extremely violent earthquake or will it peter out".
Showing Ruben Blades (top-right section of image) on the corner of Lichfield and Manchester Streets after the 6.3 quake hit Christchurch 22 February 2011 and the building being demolished along with many others. This image also shows the remains of the very heavy snow fall we had on Monday 25 July 2011. The centre of the city is still cordoned o...
The old Christchurch Railway Station Clock Tower was damaged during the 7.1 magnitude quake on 4 September 2010 and was braced by the wooden sleeve until repaired. However, although the sleeve did its job during the 6.3 magnitude quake on 22 February 2011, the lower part of the tower started to break away.
Much of the CBD is still cordoned off and without power (as you should be able to spot) as a result of the damage caused by February's deadly earthquake. This photo clearly shows the extent of the lean that the Hotel Grand Chancellor is now on. Apparently it is out by 1m at the top leaning east. Demolition will start about mid June and is expec...
A view after the 6.3 magnatude quake hit Christchurch 22 February 2011. Monsters in the Rafters You have no right to do this. Build me up Just to break me down. I wonder how you feel As I lie here alone. Fighting the monsters In my mind. Beyond the rafters Of the unknown. From a poem by Pinkieswear
Manchester Courts, a seven-storey building on the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets, is a category one historic place built in 1905-1906 that up until the 7.1 earthquake, housed offices. News of the scheduled demolition provoked an emotional response from the people of Christchurch. UPDATE 14 October 2010: A group of residents is campaig...
Some of the recent aftershocks located around Banks Peninsula since the 7.1 earthquake have resulted in renewed hot springs activity with the distinct sulphurous smells being the result of deep seated water reaching the surface. Known hot springs are located at Motukarara, Rapaki Bay, Heathcote Valley, and Purau. You can see the distant crater r...
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake".