Earthquake in New Zealand

I just emailed Hudson to check in. He felt the quake 250 miles from the epicenter. His family in Christchurch is okay but it took him a great deal of time to get through to them.

Hello Tom

Thanks for your concern. Our Country has been hit with a major catastrophe today, with a 6.3 earthquake at a depth of 3 miles, 3 miles from the centre of the largest city in the South Island, - where i grew up, and where my parents and brother live. Pop 400k

I live 250miles away and ironically was on an ACMOC conference call when the quake hit just before 1pm Tuesday our time. The quake follows a 7.1 quake that hit CHCH at 4am in Sept 2010. - no falalities.

Given the severity, shallowness, and timing - people were out and about in their lunch breaks, there are casulties with 65 deaths reported so far. This will climb.

The western countries are offering support with Australia and USA sending search and rescue teams. This is greatly appreciated and in any adversity it is important to know that your friends care, just like our fire fighters going to California two yrs ago.

This has latest quake has struck at the resilance our Chch community who were rebuilding their lives after 9/2010. Icons such as the Chch Cathedral which survived the 7.1 quake have been severely damaged. (State side this is the say the equalivent of the Capitol building- a building that defines the community).

There are approx 20 ACMOC members in and around Christchurch. As it is the Downtown area that has been hardest hit, and most of them live in rural areas i pray that they are all ok. We have will have trageties yet to unfold like the Oakland bridge, wrong time, wrong place.

At time's like this you realize that the English speaking nations have so much in common. Divided yet united by a language.

Hudson

Truly terrible-best to all Down Under and strongest hopes that anybody who possibly can will make it home safe and sound. Aussies and New Zelander's seem to be a hardy bunch-I've worked for one!

Hudson:

Thanks for checking in. Having been in the middle of the Loma Prieta and San Simeon quakes in CA I know that they are terrifying and the aftershocks fray the nerves each time one hits. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our Kiwi friends as we wish you the best.

Tom

Hi to all in NZ.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
The TV footage here in OZ has been confronting and clearly shows the devestation to the city centre and its people.
Best regards.
edb and family.

Hey we just had one here that shook the couch around some it was only 4.4 about 6 miles west http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/FaultMaps/123-39.html

Just had an email from 4 of my relations visiting Australia then onto Newzealand .All 4 were actually in the cathedral with first shock, They all ran out in choking dust luckily no one hurt, but shaken and were not allowed to go back to hotel. got a lift to outskitsts of christchurch stayed in a very nice persons house who they did not know and had to use the bottom of the garden as a toilet as there was no water any where. I think our friend above was definitley looking down on them favourably. Peter

Atlas, those relatives were incredibly lucky. The steeple of the Cathedral collapsed. 22 people believed to have been killed when this occurred. Searching of the rubble of the steeple to begin today. Hudson

Having lived through a 6.5'er here in South Africa in 1969 (the only quake in living memory), I can only echo all the sentiments on here.

Our hearts, prayers and thoughts go out to the Kiwis, All Blacks and New Zealand in this time.

Over time buildings can be rebuilt and repaired. The emotional scars will also take time to heal.
From over on this side of the "pond" we've always seen NZ rise to new challenges, and I've no doubt in my mind that as a nation you will rise above this upheavel too.