More Earthquakes: Not The Start To Christmas We’d All Hoped For …
As some of you may already know, Christchurch is currently being rocked (and rolled!) by another round of earthquakes, which began with a 5.8 shock just before 2 pm yesterday afternoon, followed by a 6.0 magnitude just after 3 pm. The seismic activity is ongoing and constant and there have also been several plus 5.0 (on the Richter scale) aftershocks in addition to the original earthquakes.
As you can imagine, this was not the Christmas we were all hoping for after over a year of earthquakes. Or what we needed, given how worn down everyone has been feeling, not just with the earth shaking and liquefaction, but the day-to-day grind of living in a severely compromised city.
At least this time the rate of acceleration appears to have been less, so except for the very worst hit areas—which have been ‘hammered’ again—there has been considerably less liquefaction than before. Personally, we have certainly had only a few ‘spots’ and no breakages either, which is practically a Christmas present in itself. As are all your concerned texts, emails, and comments on the blog here—thank you, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Like us all, I had been hoping for a relaxing Christmas with family and friends; now like everyone else in Christchurch I shall be having a festival of aftershocks, with that little lurch of the heart you get every time you feel the shaking start and think: how big will this one be?
Over it already? Sure am! But on this one we, alas, don’t get to vote. But my thoughts today are very much with those who are facing damage and liquefaction clean up again, and I well understand those who—in the words of a friend speaking of her family and friends here—are:
“Tired, anxious, worn down & fearful, and contemplating leaving.”
I totally get that, and I’m not even there! All my sympathy to those you know who are affected. Best wishes to all… and may mama nature be kind and calm over the next few days, at least!
I’m so pleased you and yours are okay, Helen. As much as is possible in this situation. I know this is the last thing anyone needed, and there’s not much anyone can say that helps. I’m thinking of you all, worrying about you all, and crossing everything that the earth gets all of this out of its system so everyone can at least have a quieter Christmas.
Glad that you will not be spending the next few days ‘digging out’ again. Our Christmas wish for you is that mother nature has had enough shaking for now and leaves you all alone!!!! Enjoy your Christmas with family and friends.Thinking of you all.
Glad to hear that you are safe and that there has been less damage this time around. Finding blessings and things to be grateful for is certainly going to be a challenge for a lot of people right now, but I hope everyone down there can still be able to enjoy Christmas.
My first thought when I heard about yesterday’s earthquakes was “oh no, not again – and not at this time of the year again!”. I’m so sad that folks in Christchurch are having to go through this whole horrible process of shocks and aftershocks yet again, but I’m glad to hear that you are OK, and I hope that the earth settles down more quickly this time.
This is good news (relatively speaking – and now i know you’re OK, ignore my email and get on with continuing to be OK!). Take care and have a great Christmas despite the earth’s taste in music, please.
so pleased you and house are ok – and no liquefaction! my thoughts are with you, your partner and his family.
so sorry to hear. my thought are with you and your town.
I’m with Tim. I meant to drop you an email last night to make sure you are okay. I’m glad the liquifaction hasn’t been as severe!
What an awful way to start the Christmas season. Praying you all will have some peace over the next few days!
Glad to hear that there were no breakages, and less liquefaction etc Helen. We’ve run away from it all and we don’t get it as bad as town. Hope that you have an aftershock free xmas and manage to get some sleep at night.
Thank you all for your thoughts and comments—I really appreciate the good wishes and also hope that things will quieten down soon. We shall do our best to enjoy the season despite the general quakiness and focus on the positives: no major injuries or deaths and I understand all the buildings that collapsed were already ‘red stickered.’
Thinking of you Helen – hope it settles down for Christmas Day. I can’t believe it’s all still rocking and rolling after nearly a year and a half. I had three weeks of it and was a nervous wreck – I don’t know how you all cope. Kiwis are obviously made of tough stuff!!! love and best
Thank you, Kathleen—it has settled down a fair bit, although the aftershocks are continuing. “If only” it could be over in 3 weeks—right now some of the geo-sciences folk are talking about 5 years: 5 years!