This week we were witness (be it only through the media) to the worst natural disaster to hit New Zealand. The second earthquake to hit the city of Christchurch occurred at 12:51pm on Tuesday the 22nd of February. The first one that occurred in September 2010 was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that was 15m deep, hit at 4am that morning. Buildings were shaken, roads were cracked and big craters formed in the middle of the roads and houses. It took the city 5 months to begin rebuilding and just when they thought they were on their way to making it, this 6.4 (or so) magnitude, 5m deep earthquake shook and crumbled what was left of the city to smitherines. To date more than 100 people have lost their lives, when last I heard it was 103 but that was only the identified bodies, they have more bodies that just have not been unidentified yet so they are not counting them. And there are more than 200 people missing. Iconic buildings like Christchurch cathedral, the Pyne Gould building and the CTV building have been destroyed. The Grand Chancellor Hotel has now been deemed dangerous and will be demolished.
It's been quite hard for me to swallow, as I am not used to such massive natural disasters. I know this isn't the norm for Kiwi's as well, but they're used to expecting these kinds of things. A lady I was on course with (Side note: I was on a 3 day course when this happened) was very nonchalantly explaining the difference between a "Rolling" earthquake & a "Shaking" Earthquake. To which myself and another young South African lady sat with eyes wide open and mouths agape! So this has really peeked my interest and I have been trying to follow every step of what's happening. Cameron has been telling me to stop watching cos I get to wrapped up in it and get really emotional watching the events unfold or reading the updates online or in the paper. The saddest part of all was hearing about the little babies that have been affected, the youngest (so far) victim was a little 5 month old boy who was born 2 weeks after the first earthquake in September and who died as a result of this one. They haven't given details of how he died, thankfully but Friday's paper had him as the cover story. Seeing that little baby, oh my word... it was excruciating. Then I hear there's been a 7 month old who also died, a tv fell on him during the earthquake and his mom couldn't get to him in time. And there's a 2 week old in the hospital with a broken leg. It's a horror story down there.
The whole of New Zealand has arms outstreched and will be digging deep to rebuild Christchurch and the people and families affected. I thank God that we have not been affected, but we know people that have lost friends, have had properties destroyed and businesses lost. My prayers are filled with "Lord bless Christchurch, keep them safe & sane and let your peace rule their hearts. And by Your grace may the people of Christchurch come to know that You are the God who saves, the God who heals, the God who restores and heals." I know that everyone who reads this will pray the same prayer and through all of us praying, I know God's hand is mighty to save.
The Pyne Gould and CTV buildings were the 2 worst hit, as many of the lives lost were in these buildings. Many tourists have also lost their lives as Christchurch cathedral and other tourist sites were affected.
Here are a few pictures (all courtesy of the NZ Herald, online) of what Christchurch used to look like and what it has become.
Lord Bless New Zealand.
"God of Nations at thy feet, in the bonds of love we meet, hear our voices we entreat, God defend our free land. Guard Pacific's triple star, from the shafts of strife & war. Make her praises heard from afar. God Defend New Zealand."
