Christchurch Case Study Flashcards
Where did this earthquake occur?
New Zealand’s South Island
When did this earthquake occur?
February 2011
What was the nature of the earthquake?
A shallow-focus strike-slip earthquake occurred along a previously unknown fault line
What was the focus depth?
4km
Where was the epicentre?
6km from the CBD in a city suburb called Lyttleton
What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
6.3 on the Richter scale
How many deaths were caused?
185, over half in the CTV building which rapidly collapsed
Why had the buildings been weakened?
There was a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 2010
How many people were injured?
3,000
What is the estimated cost of the earthquake to the NZ economy?
$40 billion
How long will it take NZ’s economy to fully recover?
50-100 years
Why did the earthquake lead to lost revenue?
The Rugby World Cup was moved
How many people were moved into temporary housing?
2,000
How many people had migrated out of the city by 2012?
10,000
How much of the CBD was damaged beyond repair?
50%
What were the main secondary hazards caused by the earthquake?
- Landslides in city suburbs such as Lyttleton
- Liquefaction
How much silt was produced by liquefaction?
400,000 tonnes
What was the main environmental impact of the earthquake?
A large chunk of the Tasman glacier was calved into the ocean
How many aftershocks were there?
361
How many buildings in the Canterbury region were severely damaged?
100,000
How many chemical toilets were provided by authorities?
30,000
How many Australian police officers were sent for search and rescue efforts?
300
How much international aid was recieved?
$7 million
How long did the state of emergency last?
2 months (until April)
When was water supply restored?
6 months later (by August)
What was the main long-term recovery strategy from the NZ government?
The Christchurch Recovery Plan
What did the CRP lead to?
- 80% of the CBD was rebuilt with new facilities and green spaces
- Development of aseismic structures including the use of steel beams
How much of the liquefaction silt was cleared by August?
80%
What was the immediate response of the NZ government?
NZ PM John Key expanded government powers and mobilised 1000 NZ Defence Force personnel the day following the earthquake
Which plates move past each other on NZ’s South Island?
Australian and Pacific plates
