Public flock to view quake carnage
BY KEITH LYNCH AND GILES BROWN
Christchurch people share their earthquake stories
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Despite police warnings thousands of Christchurch people remain on the streets to view the devastation caused by this morning's earthquake.
At around 7am, the city centre was teeming with people snapping pictures and recording video of the damage. Some were dressed in their pyjamas, while others were wrapped in blankets to stay warm.
Facebook groups with titles such as ''I survived the Christchurch Earthquake'' have already been set up and the earthquake is one of the most discussed topics on Twitter.
Inspector Malcolm Johnston of the Christchurch police pleaded with people to remain way from the city centre.
''We'd ask people to stay away from the city, especially the central business district,'' he said. At the corner of Woodham Rd and Avonside Dr the road was closed due to major cracks and water was seeping up from underneath the surface.
And at the intersection of Locksley Ave and Gayhurst Rd in Dallington, the road was closed as the earthquake had warped the road, pushing it together until it cracked and rose upwards.
Despite the pleas from their parents some children were playing in the holes left by last night's earthquake.
On Avonside Drive, one property's foundations had fallen away from the rest of the house.
Cracks ripped through the garden and through the house's walls.
But dozens of people with cameras were getting as close as possible to snap pictures. Meanwhile police staff in the city centre have clamped down on any reports of looting.
There were a small number of reports of people stealing liquor early this morning, Johnston said. However police now have ``plenty of staff'' in the city centre and have restored order, he said.
Queues of cars were also gathering at petrol stations from early morning yesterday. A staff member at the Shell station on Moorhouse Ave said there was plenty of of fuel for customers.
''We're fine,'' he said.
Meanwhile, two companies of soldiers at Burnham Military camp are ready to be deployed if necessary.
Camp spokeswoman Jane Wright said the 200 soldiers were on standby and would go to work if requested by Civil Defence.
However, she said no call for action had been made yet. Generators were supplying the camp with power.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Re # 1,Californianian ---- all as you are worried about is the title of a story in all this, get a life who ever you are, unreal.
I agree with Californian.. Devastation is the right title of the story. After seeing the published photos of the aftermath effect of the earthquake, "Devastation" might be the right title of the story. Our prayers to all of you from here in Philippines..
Sorry to hear about the quake, but if it had to happen, I can't think of a better time. Those buildings in the Christchurch city center could have killed a lot of people during the workday. Spring is coming, and by the time next winter hits, nearly all of the damage will be repaired. At least you know that it won't happen again, since major quakes are infrequent anywhere in New Zealand. We can't say that here in Slidell with hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico. For two months of each year we have to keep our fingers crossed. That quake will be the big natural event of your life, unless you leave New Zealand. And why would anyone want to leave such a beautiful country? Best wishes from the USA.
Great Christchurch Airport is open!
Returning to Christchurch tonight from Sydney. Someone I spoke to at Sydney Airport imformed me that he did not wake up until 11am NZ time (9am SAydney time) to find 10 missed calls since 2.35am Sydney Time. The hotel landline line was not used just his cell phone.
His Christchurch family home is damaged with his wife and children well but very scared.
Hope all the good folk in Christchurch and beyond are safe and well. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May your life soon be back to the way it was. 7 is a big one.
I knew the quakes by NHK morning news. Thank you for the staff in the Press for sending us the information to all over the world. NZ is the best friend of Japan. Our government will eager to support !
My thoughts & prayers are with you all. Especially friends & family in ChCh, Ashburton, Lyttleton & Kirwee. The few pictures we are getting here in California look totally devastating. Having gone through two major earthquakes here in Californa I know know how you are all feeling & how rattled the nerves are just now.
used to live in bucleugh street many years ago
any pictures yet? very very few available on the interweb yet
Our prayers are with all of you from here in South Dakota, USA...
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It's not just about gawking at fallen buildings - for us, having only just moved to Christchurch and not having family or friends here, getting out and about amongst the wider community is a way of staying connected with humanity and dealing with the shock. In the first few hours/day after the quake we were also keen to stay out of our creaking house!