Violent Quake Hits Christchurch

Violent Quake Hits New Zealand’s 2nd Most Violent City

A massive 7.4-magnitude quake struck Christchurch, the biggest city in the South Island.

The quake destroyed buildings, ripped up roads and completely paralyzed the city. Power lines, water and sewage links were cut off.

Port of Lyttelton, about 7 miles from the city center has been seriously damaged, and there were reports of two serious injuries.

Soon after the quake, the looters moved in completely cleaning out shops and other business premises.

A Much Larger Quake to Strike New Zealand

In Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands Posted on September 30, 2008, feww wrote:

Implication for New Zealand Islands:

• A substantial increase in the frequency of earthquake striking the twin islands.
• More earthquakes with magnitude 6 or larger.
• A marked increased in large explosive volcanic eruptions, especially in the following zones [also includes ‘extinct’ volcanoes]
  • Taupo Volcanic Zone
  • Bombay Hills
  • Auckland volcanic field
  • Mount Taranaki
  • Mt Horrible volcano
  • Mount Taranaki
  • Mount Cargill

Worst Case Condition for New Zealand Islands:

Will a magnitude 9.8 (M_W) earthquake centered at 42° 00′ 59″ South, 175° 05′ 07″ East herald the end of New Zealand Islands?

• Large earthquakes and massive volcanic eruptions could potentially destroy much of New Zealand structures and claim many lives.
• Earthquake and volcano-triggered waves could also give rise to 40 to 50-meter tsunami that would engulf the coastal areas and low-lying lands throughout New Zealand [could also affect parts of Australia’s eastern seaboard,] compounding the damage.
• A super/mega colossal Plinian/Ultra-Plinian eruption occurring in New Zealand’s North Island simultaneously [or within a short period of time] with a magnitude 9.8 earthquake off the eastern coast of New Zealand could claim many lives.
• Probability of occurrence:
  1. Event 1.  A magnitude 9.8 earthquake striking off the eastern coast of New Zealand with (i) the foreshocks ripping through Auckland, Hamilton, Taupo areas, (ii) the mainshock leveling Wellington, Palmerstone North, Marlborough, Nelson and Christchurch, and (iii) the aftershock causing substantial damage as far south as Invercargill: 85%
  2. Event 2. A super/ mega colossal Plinian/Ultra-Plinian eruption in the North Island: 72%  [South Island: 57%]
  3. Event 1 and Event 2 occurring simultaneously, or within a short period of time: 64 %

Related Links:

• Earthquake Cluster Zone Closing in on New Zealand
• Mt Ruapehu Eruption Alert
• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands
• New Round of Geo-Assualt at Kermadec Trench
• Mag 5.3 Earthquake Rattles North Island, NZ

• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands
• Magnitude 6.8 Quake strikes Kermadec Isls Region
• Powerful 7.8 M Quake Strikes New Zealand Region
• A Warning to Visitors to New Zealand

• Powerful Quake Strikes Christchurch, NZ
• FEWW Earthquake Links