Anything I post today seems so meaningless and trite considering what is unfolding just now in Christchurch. I was sitting in a cafe having a bowl of soup at 1.00pm when suddenly the sound on a TV was turned up as all TV was interrupted with the breaking news of a 6.3 earthquake in New Zealand with the epicentre 10km from the centre of the city. We watched in shock as people were being rescued live from devastated buildings and could only think of who else was in there. There really have been amazing scenes. A number of folks were out for lunch when their building was struck. The news so far in not intrusive but is demonstrating the human need to help others! The emergency services are working so hard.
I am amazed at how this is impacting on folks around. There have been many aftershocks already. I am home now and watching on TV. Countless people are trapped in buildings....really devastating!
The stories emerging are heartbreaking, people are trapped and phoning but don't know where they are to assist rescuers. Folks there are being asked not to use their mobiles as the network is at breaking point and are being asked to text rather than phone. Some individuals have been speaking to TV networks but are trapped under desks / stairways which have collapsed. It is different to 9/11 but the reporting of people who are trapped is happening right now! It will be dark in 2 hours and there is no power in the centre. It seems so incongruous to be sitting here looking out at this beautiful view when people are trapped and dying!
Last September's earthquake was bigger viz 7.1 but obviously damaged buildings and it was also early in the morning. They reckon this is much worse.
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