Christchurch Earthquake Flashcards
Which areas were affected?
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Lyttelton, Christchurch’s CBD
What is the tectonic setting?
Occurred at faultline between Pacific Plate and Indo-Australian Plate.
Pacific plate was subducted beneath the Indo-Australian plate.
Fault movement produced strong ground motion as it was thrusted upwards.
The epicentre was located where?
10 km South-east of Lyttelton, Christchurch.
Shallow earthquake so more damage was caused.
The movement caused the upswelling of..
300,000 tonnes of silt
The initial earthquake created…
361 aftershock and led to loss of foundations
Social impacts were?
- 185 deaths in total, 200 injured
- Power lines and telephone lines were damaged
- Christchurch Cathedral suffered damage to the spire
- Most suburbs had no water flow due to burst pipes which could be contaminated.
- Cars were swallowed by sink holes as the silt lost its structure.
What were the economic impacts?
- 10,000 buildings were demolished for reconstruction.
- Reconstruction costed over $40 billion, which would take over 50 years to recover.
- $200 million spent on injury claims by the Accident Compensation Company.
- Businesses put out of action causing loss of income and jobs. For example the CTV and PGC buildings for broadcasting.
- Christchurch can no longer host Rugby World Cup matches for some time so loss in tourism and income.
Environmental impacts included…
- 30 million tonnes of glacial ice broke off the Tasman Glacier in Mount Cook National Park, causing damage to lake and erosion.
- Approx. 900,000 tonnes of liquifaction silt was removed fropm greater Christchurch area.
- Increased concentration of suspended sediment affected water quality. Reflected by high levels of E.Coli bacteria.
- Sewage discharge into water ways and lifeline failure.
- Whitebait (Galaxis maculatus, or inanga) spawning areas were damaged, with advisories against eating them issued in 2012.
- New landfills will be created as a result of 9 million tonnes of construction and demolishing waste (50 years worth).
Short term responses include…
- Farmy Army, 800 farmers helped to clean up the city.
- The UCSA Student Volunteer Army of 10,000 to help clean up.
- Christchurch Baking Army, 350 locals baking for workers and victims.
- Rangoria Food Express, 1000 volunteers, 45 tonnes of food.
- Damaged homes kept watertight to prevent contamination of sewage waste.
Long term responses were…
- the DPH (Department of Building and Housing) plan for 500 modular homes.
- Red Cross family grants with children under 5 and suffered significant damage.
- 15 km temporary stop banks built to prevent flooding.
Management methods included..
- Zoned areas of earthquake damage.
- Creation of CERA
- Regular earthquake drills carried out.
- Retrofitting of homes with steel columns and diffusers.
- 36 traffic measures to ease flow. e.g. extra lanes.
What is CERA?
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority
