Sunday, February 14, 2016

_____________________ CRY THE BELOVED CITY _____________________

Christchurch, Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand is the city where I grew up. Today it was hit by a 5.7 earthquake. This photograph was taken on Sumner beach. The dust is from millions of tons of rocks that have fallen from Whitewash Head, a headland that I often walked around in the old Christchurch days.

The damage wasn't confined only to Whitewash head. In other parts of Christchurch newly repaired roads and water mains have been damaged and there has been a considerable amount of liquefaction.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been enduring these quakes for the last five years or more. Like most New Zealanders, especially Cantaberians, I am wondering when all this will stop. I hope it's soon.

8 comments:

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Didn't hear anything on the news.. Best wishes!

Ben said...

We heard it on the news. Sad that it happened again, I am wondering how scared people must be. After 5 years again a heavy one.

George A said...

Hoping for a positive outcome for those involved.

Alden Smith said...

George, no one lost their life in this series of quakes so that's a blessing.

Alden Smith said...

Ben, I think I would be scared by the uncertainty of it all. I would think twice about being in a tall building or walking anywhere on or around Banks Peninsula, the place where these huge cliff faces fell down.

Alden Smith said...

Thanks Steve. There are earthquakes going on all the time all over the planet. This one without loss of life is a minor one in world terms but major for those living with five years of these continuing quakes.

Bursledon Blogger said...

Very glad to hear the reports that there was no loss of like. A comment reported in the news was "That's life you get very used to the rumbles" - very Kiwi.

Alden Smith said...

Max, the early colonial settlers called New Zealand "The Shaky Isles" and for good reason. The beauty of the South Islands Alpine backbone is the result of two colliding tectonic plates, the resultant "Rumbles" breeds a certain amount of stoicism.