Its been a sad week...

You may have noticed that i haven't posted for awhile. This is due to the fact that i have been glued to the news watching how the recovery of people from the Christchurch earthquake pans out. This is such a huge tragedy for us New Zealanders. Being such a small population most of us know someone who has been affected either directly or indirectly by the earthquake. And personally Chirstchurch was the most beautiful city in New Zealand, packed full of beautiful old buildings that were build around 1910 - 1920 some older.

The earthquake (or aftershock, as officials call it. As Christchurch had a huge 7.1 quake back last September 4th, and they have been having big aftershocks ever since) struck just before 1pm local time on Tuesday the 22nd of Feb. The quake was a 6.3 on the Richter scale and only 5km deep! and it struck just 10km south-east of Christchurch CBD.

The quake has caused widespread devastation. But the worst hit area was the CBD, with many buildings just crumbling apart. Including the iconic Christchurch Cathedral, who's spire broke in half and it is feared that up to 20 people ( probably tourists) are trapped and most likely killed beneath the rubble. It is now day 4 post quake and the death toll sits at 103, but will rise as more bodies are recovered from the rubble.

One building that was completely pancaked and on fire from the quake was the CTV building, where the local television network occupied the bottom two floors of the building and a English language school resided in the top floors. They have pulled some people alive from the wreckage but it is feared that up to 120 people are trapped in there still most likely dead as they say it is a unsurvivable building.

Much of Christchurch is covered in liquefaction from the quake, which is muddy sediment and sewage which seeps up through the ground due to land movements. There are so many amazing story's of survival and terrible stories of loss. The people of Christchurch are in for a big and long clean up, with many people now homeless. But the generosity and kindness which most New Zealanders are showing to their fellow citizens in need is just unsurpassable. I feel immensely proud to be a New Zealander at this time.

THE NUMBERS

103 confirmed fatalities - four names released
228 missing
70 live rescues
10 international teams on the ground
559 rescuers on the ground

594 seen by emergency departments - 164 of those admitted to hospital

2000 people have had treatment for injuries
11 patients in intensive care
452 people in welfare centres
(John Carter says this number is down on the September quake as more people are self-evacuating the city)
20,131 calls to the Government's help-line
Five active welfare centres

The cost of rebuilding this destroyed city is huge and many are banding together to fund raise for Christchurch. Amongst many others The Australian government has given us $5 million Australian dollars towards the clean up and rebuild. If you would like to donate some money to the Christchurch relief fund you can do so by these means:

A Mayoral fund has been set up for donations to the citizens of Christchurch using the following BNZ bank account: 02-0800-084958-000.

Donations can be made to the Red Cross online or via the GrabOne website orfundraiseonline.co.nz, as the Red Cross site has been crashing.
Donations can be made to the Salvation Army by calling 0800 53 00 00 (specify that your donation is for the 'Canterbury Earthquake Appeal') or at:
• Any ANZ Bank branch: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00
• Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
• Any Westpac Bank branch: Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
• Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808-00
• Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000
• Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00

Donations can be made to the Rotary New Zealand World Community Service here.

Donations can be made to the Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand website, by calling 0800 22 10 22, or by post: Caritas, PO Box 12193, Thorndon, Wellington, 6144. Mark correspondence: "Canterbury Earthquake Appeal".

Telecom mobile users can donate to the Red Alert Canterbury Earthquake Appeal by texting to 4419 to make an automatic $3 donation to the appeal.

Vodafone users can donate to the Red Alert Canterbury Earthquake Appeal by texting "Quake" to 333 to make a $3 donation to the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal.

Across the Tasman, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia is also accepting donations for the New Zealand Red Cross.

Britons can donate to the New Zealand Red Cross online here.
Alternatively UK Vodafone customers can give £5 by texting "NZQUAKE" to 70801. UK Vodafone will donate an extra £1 for each text.

BP Oil NZ will be matching dollar for dollar all donations made to victims of the Christchurch earthquake at its Wild Bean Cafes and BP Connect stores.

It wish to express gratitude as a New Zealander, to all of the people out there helping rescue and clean up Christchurch and all those giving money and helping to fund raise. This really is a time to band together.


XO
Meg