Christchurch Case Study

Question 1

Where did this earthquake occur?

Answer 1

New Zealand’s South Island

Question 2

When did this earthquake occur?

Answer 2

February 2011

Question 3

What was the nature of the earthquake?

Answer 3

A shallow-focus strike-slip earthquake occurred along a previously unknown fault line

Question 4

What was the focus depth?

Answer 4

4km

Question 5

Where was the epicentre?

Answer 5

6km from the CBD in a city suburb called Lyttleton

Question 6

What was the magnitude of the earthquake?

Answer 6

6.3 on the Richter scale

Question 7

How many deaths were caused?

Answer 7

185, over half in the CTV building which rapidly collapsed

Question 8

Why had the buildings been weakened?

Answer 8

There was a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 2010

Question 9

How many people were injured?

Answer 9

3,000

Question 10

What is the estimated cost of the earthquake to the NZ economy?

Answer 10

$40 billion

Question 11

How long will it take NZ’s economy to fully recover?

Answer 11

50-100 years

Question 12

Why did the earthquake lead to lost revenue?

Answer 12

The Rugby World Cup was moved

Question 13

How many people were moved into temporary housing?

Answer 13

2,000

Question 14

How many people had migrated out of the city by 2012?

Answer 14

10,000

Question 15

How much of the CBD was damaged beyond repair?

Answer 15

50%

Question 16

What were the main secondary hazards caused by the earthquake?

Answer 16

• Landslides in city suburbs such as Lyttleton
• Liquefaction

Question 17

How much silt was produced by liquefaction?

Answer 17

400,000 tonnes

Question 18

What was the main environmental impact of the earthquake?

Answer 18

A large chunk of the Tasman glacier was calved into the ocean

Question 19

How many aftershocks were there?

Answer 19

361

Question 20

How many buildings in the Canterbury region were severely damaged?

Answer 20

100,000

Question 21

How many chemical toilets were provided by authorities?

Answer 21

30,000

Question 22

How many Australian police officers were sent for search and rescue efforts?

Answer 22

300

Question 23

How much international aid was recieved?

Answer 23

$7 million

Question 24

How long did the state of emergency last?

Answer 24

2 months (until April)

Question 25

When was water supply restored?

Answer 25

6 months later (by August)

Question 26

What was the main long-term recovery strategy from the NZ government?

Answer 26

The Christchurch Recovery Plan

Question 27

What did the CRP lead to?

Answer 27

• 80% of the CBD was rebuilt with new facilities and green spaces
• Development of aseismic structures including the use of steel beams

Question 28

How much of the liquefaction silt was cleared by August?

Answer 28

80%

Question 29

What was the immediate response of the NZ government?

Answer 29

NZ PM John Key expanded government powers and mobilised 1000 NZ Defence Force personnel the day following the earthquake

Question 30

Which plates move past each other on NZ’s South Island?

Answer 30

Australian and Pacific plates