As many of you already know, at 4.35am yesterday Christchurch was rocked by a 7.1 earthquake. I was awoken by the loud roar and everything clattering around me. My immediate thought was to get under a doorframe so I went and grabbed Milly from her bed while my husband grabbed Noah, just before the power went out and we were plunged into darkness. We stood in the doorframe and the rocking was so intense that I was bracing myself for the windows to blow out or the roof to start falling but miraculously we escaped with no damage at all. The only breakage was a lightbulb that rolled off a shelf. After the initial quake was over there were alarms going off all over the place and the kids were pretty shaken. Milly (3) was quiet and confused by it all while Noah (5) was trembling and absolutely terrified. We stayed under the doorway wrapped in blankets for the next 20 minutes while the aftershocks were still quite strong. We are so much more fortunate than some others. Our whole street looks to be pretty much unaffected but a drive around our neighbourhood shows the damage that has been done.
Silt that has spewed up through cracks in the ground is everywhere and quite a few houses appear to have sunk in parts, making them uninhabitable.
It is the most terrifying experience I have ever been through and I am so thankful that, amazingly, there were no fatalities.
Thank goodness you are all safe and your home escaped damage. It must have been very frightening!
ReplyDeleteIt was so terrifying wasn't it? We were also lucky to escape with no injuries or damage. I know of people, including my parents over on Banks Peininsula that have pretty major damage. Those are great pictures.
ReplyDeletenot that i think chch is lucky, but it was lucky it happened when so many were in bed and not out and about on streets or in town otherwise im sure there would have been loads of seriously hurt people.
ReplyDeleteAmazing there were no fatalities - imagine that same quake at 9am or 12pm or 5pm on a Monday Tuesday or any weekday.
ReplyDeleteI can't begin to imagine what it must have been like and the fear of your poor babies ;'(
Sending all of my love down to Christchurch xxx
Am so glad to hear you are all safe, I can't even imagine how scary that must have been!
ReplyDeleteHow very very scary. So glad to hear no one was hurt.
ReplyDeleteI agree, such a blessing that there were no fatalities. Your first hand account and photos are fascinating. And your information on having a plan for an emergency is great. Thanks!
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