Article

2011-02-22 Down Under

Massive Earthquake Hits Christchurch, NZ

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Posted by Grunter in Sydney 2011-02-22 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 61 confirmed dead now, says NZ Prime Minister. One collapsed buiding alone has 30 people inside.

Posted by Grunter in Sydney 2011-02-22 00:57|| 2011-02-22 00:57|| Front Page Top

#2 The extensive damage to old masonry and brick veneers I expected. I am surprised to see a number of modern, re-enforced concrete buildings and wood frame structures collapse; I guess they were on soft ground and not solid foundations. Given that it is a well-known major earthquake area (and in a semi-socialist country) I am surprised at the apparant lack of earthquake-resistant design in fairly modern structures. (I am of course assuming they did not import cement and cement construction teams from Egypt or the like.)

Posted by Glenmore 2011-02-22 10:19|| 2011-02-22 10:19|| Front Page Top

#3 Christchurch is built on silty sands and a high water table - see: liquefaction recipe

the pore pressure in the soils builds faster than it can dissipate, and the soil literally becomes liquid

Posted by Frank G 2011-02-22 10:30|| 2011-02-22 10:30|| Front Page Top

#4 A lot of factors go into causing damage in an earthquake. Loma Prieta was surprising not only for the damage it caused, but the expected damage it didn't. It will be interesting to see the final analysis. But the damage to modern wood frame buildings suggests there may be a code problem.

Posted by Spaising Thaiting6528 2011-02-22 10:41|| 2011-02-22 10:41|| Front Page Top

#5 Christchurch had a much bigger quake 6 months ago (Mag 7.2), but this one was shallow and only 10K away.

NZ geologists are saying this one was an aftershock of the early quake.

Posted by phil_b 2011-02-22 14:37|| 2011-02-22 14:37|| Front Page Top

#6 IRRC FOX NEWS this Guam AM > NZ death toll at 65 wid another 100 Persons Missing, presumed by the NZ Govt to most likely be buried under the mass of quake rubble.

On a personal note, IMO GUAM PER SE HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED A "WAVE" OF SEVERAL MAGNITUDE 3-5 QUAKES OF RELATIVELY LONG-DURATION [5-15 SECONDS BTWN TIME BREAKS], BUT WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN REPORTED IN THE LOCAL MEDIAS NOR BY THE USGS.

I guess iff GovGuam wants answers or information it'll have to ask the RUSSIANS.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2011-02-22 20:41|| 2011-02-22 20:41|| Front Page Top

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