By now most people in the world would've heard about the cruel destruction of the Garden City Christchurch in New Zealand by the deadly quake on Tuesday 22 February.
Following is an account of my actions and thoughts in that harrowing afternoon four days ago. Please be aware it is long, personal and emotional. Read it ONLY if you want to.
…
It was a lazy Tuesday. Having worked on Sunday and submitted the job with very tight deadline on Monday, I was trying to relax as well as catching up with editing and uploading some pictures to my photo albums. Having uploaded a lot, I closed the image viewer program, went off to the kitchen to fix some tea and toast for lunch, came back to the lounge/home office and opened Opera to check news.
As expected, there wasn't much happening in my neck of woods. I finished my lunch and finishing my cup of tea when the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Te Ara tweeted,
'Another earthquake has hit Christchurch… waiting for more information #eqnz'
Oh, another "massive" aftershock that turned out only big enough to break some shop windows, was my first thought. But then Geonet NZ tweeted,
'Quake: mag 6.3, Tue, Feb 22 2011 12:51 pm (NZDT), http://geonet.org.nz/3468575g 10 km south-east of Christchurch'
Magnitude 6.3 is bigger than most of the aftershocks since the 7.1 in September, but still less than a 1/10 of the big one in terms of energy released. Shouldn't be that bad, though the close distance to the city is worrying, I thought. I tried to get to the Geonet page but had to wait some time before the server returned the updated page content. The map showed the epicentre under the port hill right behind the port town of Lyttleton, and the depth of only 5km!
I felt a knot in my stomach. I grew up in Japan. I know how deadly a relatively small quake can be if shallow and right under a city. Still 6.3 was not as big as the 6.8 of the Great Hanshin Awaji Quake Disaster of 1996 that destroyed the city of Kobe and killed nearly 6500 people
By the time I came back from Geonet site, Twitter had several more tweets from the media, though the reports linked were still sketchy other than this quake was indeed "massive". The scale of devastation did not hit me until I saw kiwi photographer Rob Suisted tweet, 'TV3 coverage on TV now of quake. Stunned people. Terrible #eqnz' and turned the TV on.
The images on TV for a minute or so after coming on did not look so bad. People are alive, walking, not many had blood on, some piles of rubbles by the street. Then the TV showed the scene of a man with a leg injury being interviewed, disrupted by the screams and shouts in background. The camera panned, and showed the crumbling spire of the ChristChurch Cathedral, the icon and symbol of the City of Christchurch. My head went empty.
I followed the coverage for some time, but was unable to process what I was seeing. Graphic images of a collapsed building, a group of people on a big pile of rubble presumably trying to rescue someone trapped. More similar images at different location. I could hear the voices of field reporters and the news reader in the studio both shaking and breaking. My hands were cold. A lump in my throat and a big tight knot in my stomach. My eyes were hot.
I don't know how long I was like that. I finally took my eyes off TV and my attention back to the Web. I had subscribed the Civil Defence tweet for some time, and they were now issuing periodical updates of the situation. The "unofficial" NZ Police tweets also delivered news of their update. There were some discrepancies between the media coverage and CD or Police information.
Then I belatedly realised the quake related tweets all bore the #eqnz hashtag. The tweets coming in with #eqnz were truly chaotic. Again some tweets seemed wrong (Chch Hospital is closed! Not true!!) or outdated, without citing the source of information. Without thinking much, I tweeted the info I saw on NZ police website about the triage centres with the #eqnz hashtag. I knew I don't have many followers on Twitter. But still, even if only one person spotted my tweet and passed on, it might help someone.
I kept monitoring updates on the Civil Defence, NZ Police, and later the Canterbury Earthquake website by the Environment Canterbury, and kept tweeting or retweeting what I thought the most important info, such as locations of the triage centres and welfare centres and transport status. I saw one of a known kiwi web critic tweeted to warn inaccuracy of some of the tweets, and someone else replied to use the #src hastag when the source of information is confirmed. I started adding #src to my tweets and was encouraged seeing it RTed or MTed.
Meanwhile the TV screen kept delivering the horrific reality happening in this country real time to my safe and quiet lounge. My dad rang from Japan. I told him, I'm safe. Didn't even feel it. and hang up. We had been told not to use the phone unless emergency. I was busy checking the info and tweeting. And I didn't want him to know I was almost in tears. I used to live in Christchurch. I spent my first two years in NZ there studying and having great adventures. It was nearly 20 years ago, but 20 years is a mere moment in Geological time. That could have been me under the rubble. And why did this have to happen to Christchurch, where no major earthquake had been on record until last September? Why not here in Wellington, or Hawkes Bay, where previously suffered severe earthquake damages?
I went on like that, with TV on and constantly checking the official web sites and tweeting with shaky hands, stopping at times to wipe away tears and blowing nose. I lost the sense of time. Forgot to have dinner until my cat complained at 8pm. Only managed a couple of toast.
A UK based psychologist who worked on the previous September quake tweeted, 'Recommend limiting exposure to repeated viewing of ChCh coverage, no matter how much you want to see it. Step away from the screen #eqnz'. An excellent advice, but very difficult to implement. It took me over an hour before I could finally turn my laptop off after tweeting,
'I'm going off line shortly. My thoughts are with you, Christchurch, and my soul is weeping. Be strong.'
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
🙂 .Today, here, it's raining, brand-new green colors are appearing, the temperature is increasing a bit, the wind stands still, everything is quiet, simple things but miracles. Such events as what happened in New-Zealand and Japan makes oneself humble.I saw an old man on TV saying : "now we must build again", whatever happened, it's probably the best to think about !Hopefully these bad events will never happen again for the rest of your life MM !! :wait:
Thank you for your support, Olivier. 🙂
My condolances as well MM :awww: I'm happy to hear your relatives are okay but the news are just so devastating 😥 So many people missing.
Thank you for your kind words, Sami. :)This is a disaster beyond anyone's imagination and I'm having trouble grasping the true magnitude of it. It's not just city or small region that suffered the damage, but entire north east coast of Japan's main land was devastated. Three prefectures (provinces) along the coast line all bore heavy casualties. The police commander of Miyagi prefecture (middle of the three pref. & where the airport is) said yesterday he expected the number of death would exceed 10000. Iwate prefecture in the north would also have a similar level of casualties. Fukushima in the south also have to deal with the nuclear plant malfunctions (which seem over reported in the western media)Christchurch quake was also a horrific disaster, but the small scale and close media reporting made it possible to see and understand the reality. I could know what to do, eg tweet right information, make donation and share my experience & good memories of the beautiful town to honour and support them. This time is different. Almost three days since the catastrophe and I'm still stunned and numb, going through motions of my safe daily living.
If tsunami alert is given in three minutes, and tsunami hit in 10 minutes, then peope had only seven minutes to escape :(Pictures show how horrible that was:http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm
It is so sad to know about these events and they are happening too often during these latest years. I am so sorry for all those people who are suffering and I know it's not easy to think about the future after this kind of shock, but we have to say to go on and don't give up!
Yes, Sami. Some of them had no chance. That particular coast line was known to suffer major tsunami damages in the past and many communities had up to 10m sea wall built around their harbour with gates supposed to close at time of major tsunami emergency. Also the planes further south around the airport and beyond had 6m high sea dike with long strips of pine plantation. But those would've been not much use with this tsunami over 10m reaching 5km inland on the planes, up to 10km inland along rivers. :(Thank you for your support, Zeph. I've no doubt the people of Japan will eventually get to the stage where they pick themselves up and move on. And the people of the world would support their efforts.But right now, it is still ongoing. This superquake three days ago seemed have triggered swarms of aftershocks in other areas, and now newer aftershocks are happening closer to or right under Tokyo. The report by Japanese Meteorological Agency includes a warning, "the possibility of aftershocks with magnitude of 7 or higher is 70% until 10 a.m., 16 March, followed by 50% until 10 a.m., 19 March." My parents live in south of Tokyo, where the damage from the initial quake was minor because of the distance. However a 7+ quake closer would be a totally different matter. I am still extremely worried. 🙁
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
Hugs. :heart:I have been amazed at how well the structures stood up to the 9.0 earthquake — an incredible feat of engineering! Of course the tsunami is a different story. 🙁
Thank you, Deb. :heart: I've spoken to Dad this morning and suggested they temporarily evacuate to a relative's place 100km or so inland, which should be safer. Either Mum or Dad were keen, which is understandable considering their age and their reluctance of causing trouble to others. Also there's no means of transport available because of the power shortage caused by power generation plants in the north being out of action. I hope their building would withstand in the worst case. But they live in the bottom floor of relativey old four story apartment building. :(Meanwhile I've been trying to distract myself by making some progress at the roof front. Washed it down and started to put primer on. I can tell you the term "spot priming" can be rather relative. Some of which I've been doing can be described better as "area priming" :p Unfortunately the wind has picked up and I had to stop, leaving still about a half of the roof unprimed. Now I've got several "spot primed" patches on my arms. 😆
What comes to news available at this side of the globe, that seem to work amazingly well :eyes: Here in Finland national YLE provides link to NHK Wolrd's news stream, thus making it possible to follow the situation. I hope those nuclear power stations does not melt down 🙁
Originally posted by serola:
Fins are wise people 😉 I'm also following NHK web site and found their reporting more accurate than, say, Reuters (Don't trust their "Breaking News"!). BBS International is also good. Originally posted by serola:
I'm sure they won't, though there could be more radioactive leakage. Take a look at these:http://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2011/03/14/japans-nuclear-crisis-qa-with-experts/http://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2011/03/14/update-experts-on-japans-nuclear-reactor-crisis/
Thanks MM 🙂 Those Web sites answered to almost all questions I had. The only question that remains is what needs to be done to seal the damaged reactors in the future. Those nuclear power stations causes a lot of work when built, used, and especially when had to be closed like this 🙁
Yes. Once the situation is settled, I'm sure there will be a lot of people asking questions about the necessity of nuclear power generation in Japan. There are a lot of alternatives these days such as wind, wave and tidal generation technologies.I've just spoken to my Dad again. He's now considering evacuating to my brother's place until aftershocks settle. 🙂
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
:yes: Good 🙂
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
I realize it would be a difficult, if safer, course of action. Hope all goes well. :up:Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
😆 It sounds like you'll be able to finish before summer has slipped away. :yes:
Originally posted by darkesthour:
😆 :lol:You should explain what the "roof shout" is to those outside NZ. 😀
Woot :hat: :yes: Whens the roof shout? 😀
Just talked to Dad. He decided to stay put. 🙁 I can only hope any large aftershocks are far away.Originally posted by debplatt:
As long as I can finish before winter rains come, I'd be happy. Finished spot priming about 80%. Another couple of hours to finish off then I can start putting top coat! 😀
Roof shout?!?!?
DH, Deb's asking. :whistle:
Originally posted by debplatt:
Google gives all the answers… :whistle: http://www.oocities.org/tmarkjames/House2.htmlThe page itself is informative but look at the context! An archived page that "is an antiquarian" :lol:EDIT: And more on topic at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topping_out
Quite right, a 'small' part to celebrate the roof being finished.. :cheers:
Famous last words, here comes winter :eyes: :yikes:
You have to buy it first 😆
I was thinking more in line of this 😀
I know. I don't need to, do I? 😀
I hope you have your wood already
I am afraid so… Lots of cold, wet and rain 😥
Originally posted by darkesthour:
:no:
😥
Originally posted by darkesthour:
No, I haven't! :cry:M6 quake almost right under Mt Fuji! Fortunately the shaking was localised and my parents are fine. But my heart skipped beat a few times!
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
Hallo MM, I only wanted to visit you and wish you and your parents all the best. Take care of yourself and your heart!
Thank you, Angelika. I'm doing OK. Been busy with the roof helps. 🙂 The nuclear situation looks bad, but I'm certain would not affect where my parents are.
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
I hope so! Good luck with your roof work, because now the colder months have started in NZ – unlike here in good old Germany.
Originally posted by Chamaeleo:
You are rubbing it in, aren't you? :rolleyes:
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
I don't understand the meaning, MM. What does that mean? Sorry 🙁
😆 Sorry abut that, Angelika. "Rub it in" as "rub salt into a wound", meaning you tell someone something bad, embarrassing or upsetting, even when the person already knows well about it.
The closest I have got is seeing the film Witness…(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witness_(1985_film))and the occasional documentary
Well the "roof shout" and "topping out" ceremonies were very interesting. :cheers: Having grown up in a rural area, they reminded me a bit of barn raisings.
Actually some of the neighborhood Amish watched "Witness" at my dad's house. They don't have electricity or TVs in their own homes, but if they happen to stop by while you happen to be watching it, they can watch it, too.
Looks like a scene from Little House on the Prairie! I loved the show when I was young :love: Originally posted by debplatt:
😆 I like that kind of flexibility 😀
Originally posted by debplatt:
Sounds possibly Amish?
Me, too. 😀
Yes, there were a lot of Amish near where I grew up. Here's a photo of Dee with one of my dad's neighbors.
Originally posted by qlue:
There are a number of blogs about the Amish, and I've seen a couple by ex-Amish people.
It's just occured to me that the Amish don't blog! :insane:.
Originally posted by qlue:
Unless they happened to be visiting someone who happened to have made an account at a social network and told them to share their thoughts … 😀
I'm done for the night. :bye:
I watched a youtube clip where they were using a crane to help raise a barn… I guess the crane just 'stopped by' 😀 Perhaps they can blog if they are passing someone that is blogging at the time??
TTFN :bye: