padburgess
September 20th, 2010, 03:16
Just thought I'd share some stats with ya all. I live on the Canterbury plains South Island of NZ. Actually only 7km from the epicenter of the 7.1 magnitude quake that hit at 4:35am 6th Sept. To say it was a wild ride is an understatement. However we (as in Christchurch NZ) got away with no deaths and whilst there is major damage to many older buildings in the city and to some of the suburbs, generally we did well. Good building codes and luckily it struck at a time when the city was not full of people. An hour earlier and it would have been a whole lot worse as that area of the city worst hit is where most of the night life takes place.
However, the stats. We have now had, beside the 1 magnitude 7.1, 10 magnitude 5 - 6, 97 magnitude 4 -5, 385 magnitude 3 - 4 and numerous smaller after shocks totaling more than 700 over the last two weeks. I now have a greater appreciation for the devastating effect that those large quakes we read about hitting poorer countries have and the ongoing effect of the after shocks. I live in a modern well prepared country, there is probably no better prepared place on earth, and the effect on myself and my family, friends and work colleagues is profound. So next time you read about a magnitude 7 or 8 quake hitting a remote part of China, Afghanistan, Haiti or Iran, spare some thought for the poor terrified people living with what has just happened to them. And if possible give what aid you can.
However, the stats. We have now had, beside the 1 magnitude 7.1, 10 magnitude 5 - 6, 97 magnitude 4 -5, 385 magnitude 3 - 4 and numerous smaller after shocks totaling more than 700 over the last two weeks. I now have a greater appreciation for the devastating effect that those large quakes we read about hitting poorer countries have and the ongoing effect of the after shocks. I live in a modern well prepared country, there is probably no better prepared place on earth, and the effect on myself and my family, friends and work colleagues is profound. So next time you read about a magnitude 7 or 8 quake hitting a remote part of China, Afghanistan, Haiti or Iran, spare some thought for the poor terrified people living with what has just happened to them. And if possible give what aid you can.