Earthquake with magnitude 7.4 in New Zealand:
Miraculously, there were only two serious injuries. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on the night of Friday to Saturday in Christchurch, the second city in New Zealand (340,000 inhabitants). Awake at night, people came out in panic, leaving their homes and streets blocked by discovering the crumbling facades of buildings, littered with broken glass and crushed cars, collapsed bridges and gas pipelines cut in several places .
“In fact, we are blessed”
Half the city was without power at dawn on Saturday morning. Many facades of buildings have collapsed. But according to hospital sources, only two men aged in their fifties were seriously injured. Other hospitals treating more people more slightly affected.
“As a nation, we were extremely lucky not to lament the dead,” said Minister of Civil Security John Carter, adding: “In fact, we are blessed.”
If the death toll appears limited, property damage, however, are considerable and could reach 2 billion NZ dollars (about 1.12 billion euros), said Ian Simpson, Director General of the Commission of earthquakes.
The state of emergency has been declared, however in the city, said Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker. “This will make it a little easier for us to get people out of buildings if necessary and close the streets,” said the mayor on national radio. Bob Parker said he was “horrified by the extent of damage,” he said much more important at first sight.
“There are gas leaks, damaged water pipes, sewage flowing into the houses and lots of cables and power poles broken. It’s very dangerous to go out into the street, “he added. Police sealed off the center of Christchurch, where a curfew was imposed from 19h to 7 am, because of reports of looting, “said Inspector Mike Coleman asking people to stay home .
Christchurch International Airport, the main entrance south of the island was closed for several hours, forcing aircraft to land in Auckland and Wellington, before reopening in the afternoon. Moreover, the movement of trains has been suspended pending check the status of the network.
One of the most powerful earthquakes in the history of New Zealand The civil defense officials have explained the low number of casualties by the hour (4:35 am) at which the earthquake is triggered. Initially measured by the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS) to 7.4 magnitude, it has been revised downward to 7. Aftershocks continued to be felt, but the risks of tsunami have been removed by the Tsunami Warning Center for the Pacific.
The earthquake, whose epicenter was located at a depth of 16.1 km, has reached an area located 30 km north-west of Christchurch, according to the USGS. This earthquake is one of the most powerful in the history of New Zealand, located on the Ring of Fire at the border of the Australian and Pacific plates, and shaken by tremors around 15,000 each year. The earthquake on February 3, 1931, which had 256 deaths in the Hawke’s Bay on the North Island, remains the deadliest to date.
