New fault line ripped in earth's surface
Source: Agencies |
September 6, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE powerful earthquake that smashed buildings, cracked roads and twisted rail lines around the New Zealand city of Christchurch also ripped a 3.5 meter wide fault line in the earth's surface.
At least 500 buildings, including 90 downtown properties, were destroyed when the 7.1-magnitude quake struck at 4:35am on Saturday near the South Island city of 400,000 people. Most other buildings sustained only minor damage.
The quake cut power across the region, roads were blocked by debris and gas and water supplies were disrupted, but Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said services were being restored yesterday.
Power was back to 90 percent of the city and water supply had resumed for all but 15 to 20 percent of residents, he said. Portable toilets had been provided and tanks of fresh water placed around the city for residents.
First priority
Parker said it would take a long time to fully fix some core services such as water and sewerage. "Our first priority is just people," he said. "That's our worry."
Up to 90 extra police officers had flown in to help, and troops were likely to join the recovery effort today, he said.
Specialist engineering teams had begun assessing damage to all central city buildings, said Paul Burns of the city's search and rescue service. Officials said schools across the region would remain closed for the next two days to allow time to check whether they were safe.
Only two serious injuries were reported from the quake as chimneys and walls of older buildings were reduced to rubble and crumbled to the ground. Prime Minister John Key said it was a miracle no one was killed.
Part of the reason the city escaped major injuries was because the quake happened before dawn, Key said.
Human life
"If this had happened five hours earlier or five hours later (when many more people were in the city), there would have been absolute carnage in terms of human life," he said.
Experts said the low number of injuries in the powerful quake also reflects the country's strict building codes.
Canterbury University geology professor Mark Quigley said what "looks to us that it could be a new fault" had ripped across the earth. The quake was caused by the ongoing collision between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, said Quigley, head of a team trying to pin down the earthquake's source.
Scientists began installing extra seismographs in the region yesterday to record data from a continuing stream of aftershocks.
New Zealand has more than 14,000 earthquakes a year - but only about 150 are felt by residents. Fewer than 10 do any damage.
At least 500 buildings, including 90 downtown properties, were destroyed when the 7.1-magnitude quake struck at 4:35am on Saturday near the South Island city of 400,000 people. Most other buildings sustained only minor damage.
The quake cut power across the region, roads were blocked by debris and gas and water supplies were disrupted, but Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said services were being restored yesterday.
Power was back to 90 percent of the city and water supply had resumed for all but 15 to 20 percent of residents, he said. Portable toilets had been provided and tanks of fresh water placed around the city for residents.
First priority
Parker said it would take a long time to fully fix some core services such as water and sewerage. "Our first priority is just people," he said. "That's our worry."
Up to 90 extra police officers had flown in to help, and troops were likely to join the recovery effort today, he said.
Specialist engineering teams had begun assessing damage to all central city buildings, said Paul Burns of the city's search and rescue service. Officials said schools across the region would remain closed for the next two days to allow time to check whether they were safe.
Only two serious injuries were reported from the quake as chimneys and walls of older buildings were reduced to rubble and crumbled to the ground. Prime Minister John Key said it was a miracle no one was killed.
Part of the reason the city escaped major injuries was because the quake happened before dawn, Key said.
Human life
"If this had happened five hours earlier or five hours later (when many more people were in the city), there would have been absolute carnage in terms of human life," he said.
Experts said the low number of injuries in the powerful quake also reflects the country's strict building codes.
Canterbury University geology professor Mark Quigley said what "looks to us that it could be a new fault" had ripped across the earth. The quake was caused by the ongoing collision between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, said Quigley, head of a team trying to pin down the earthquake's source.
Scientists began installing extra seismographs in the region yesterday to record data from a continuing stream of aftershocks.
New Zealand has more than 14,000 earthquakes a year - but only about 150 are felt by residents. Fewer than 10 do any damage.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
