Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake Flashcards
Why is New Zealand prone to earthquakes?
Because it is located along the boundary of the Pacific and Australian plates
What are the characteristics of New Zealand?
It is a high-income country with well-developed infrastructure and strict building regulations and low population density
What was the population of Christchurch at the time of the earthquake?
380,000
What are the characteristics of the Christchurch quake?
Date= 4th September 2010
Magnitude=7.1
Epicentre= 40km west of Christchurch
Depth= 10km (shallow focus)
Length= 40 seconds
Aftershocks= 5000
What was the main aftershocks from the Christchurch quake?
The 6.3 magnitude quake on the 22 February 2011
What were the impacts from the Christchurch quake?
-100,000 buildings damaged
-62,000 buildings needing repairs
-100 injuries
-widespread power, water and sewage outages
-$4 billion in damage
-thousands had to evacuate
What was the response to Christchurch quake?
-State of emergency declared
-New Zealand Defence Force provided assistance with evacuation
-International aid was offered but often declined
What was the long term response to the Christchurch quake?
-Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) was set up to coordinate rebuilding efforts with stricter regulations
-Red Zone was established, marking areas where rebuilding was unsafe
-Psychological and financial support was provided
-Continued monitoring and research was doing into the risks
