New Zealand Earthquake of 2011

Tuesday February 22, 2011, an earthquake ruptured through Christchurch, New Zealand. With a 6.3 magnitude this earthquake caused several deaths and injuries as it crushed buildings and buses, buckled streets and damaged cathedrals. The quake struck just before 1 p.m. Tuesday (7 p.m. Monday ET). Two aftershocks occurred one having a 5.6 magnitude occurring about 15 minutes after the initial quake and a second 5.5 magnitude aftershock around 3 p.m. local time. The Christchurch hospital and airport were evacuated and closed due to the severe amount of potential damage that could be done at these areas. Also a large evacuation of the central city took place and it was reported that there were an undetermined final amount of deaths because of the amount of collapsing buildings that fell and crushed buses below them. So far there is a estimated amount of at least 65 people being killed. (CNN wire staff, 2011) 

A New Zealand newspaper reported that fires were breaking out, water mains were flooding the cities and phone lines were down as well. Roads were also cracked and the cities emergency service was unreachable. “It’s a nightmare,” said Kevin Fenaughty of GNS Science, an earth science research institute in New Zealand, talking about the aftershock of the original earthquake. “A lot of people were just getting back on their feet after the original quake.”(Harris, 2011). A witness of the earthquake named Gavin Blowman told CNN, there were now fears that a tsunami could hit from the seismic waves from the quake. Him and tons of others were trying to get to safe, higher ground to protect themselves from a possible tsunami.(CNN wire staff, 2011). People were also urged to avoid the water supply. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, said he would attend an emergency Cabinet meeting in Wellington and if the airport would open he would fly back to Christchurch. The mayor, Bob Parker, was also affected by this quake. He reported being thrown across the room in the city council building and knew that their were injuries within the building resulting from the quake. 


The United States sent a search-and-rescue team from Los Angeles county fire department to New Zealand on Tuesday after the earthquake. As said by Obama, "On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to the people of New Zealand and to the families and friends of the victims in Christchurch. We stand ready to provide more assistance as needed." On Tuesday 43 U.S government, business and community leaders were sent to Christchurch for a U.S.-New Zealand Partnership Forum meeting. This meeting brought together all the leaders of both countries to discuss ways to cooperate on trade and other issues. Another plan was to broaden the partnership of both the countries and the U.S would provide any assistance New Zealand required. (Mitchell, 2011) 

CNN wire staff, (Writer). (2011). Deadly quake strikes new zealand [Television series episode]. In (Executive producer), CNN. CNN News Network. 

(CNN wire staff, 2011) 

Harris, E.A. (2011, February 21). Strong earthquake shakes new zealand. The New York Times, Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/world/asia/22zealand.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=new%20zealand%20earthquake&st=cse 

(Harris, 2011)

Mitchell, M. (2011). Us sends rescue team to help in nz earthquake. Columbus Telegram, Retrieved from http://columbustelegram.com/news/national/article_5af288c7-2a6c-552c-8150-a29ef90228bd.h 

(Mitchell, 2011)