chirstchurch

This is the story of Christchurch

1. My heart melted as I stumbled into christchurch the cold empty city with nothing but dust and rubble. Earthquakes can have an incredibly devastating effect on people and land

2. Let’s go back in time to Tuesday the 22nd of February 2011 at 12:51pm. Most people were out having lunch when  a 6.3 magnitude earthquake! struck  Christchurch was no stranger to earthquakes ... they had been occurring since September the year prior but this one was different.  The epicentre of the earthquake was very shallow with an upward movement, not the normal side-ways motion we usually feel.it was this upward movement, close to the surface, that destroyed buildings and caused 185 deaths and an estimated 1500 - 2000 injuries,164of them very serious.

3. The building that completely collapsed killing most of the people inside, was the CCTV building.  I went to visit the site of where this building had been and I was overcome with the sadness that filled the air.
4. Across the road were 185 white chairs - each one representing a person who died in the quake.  The artist had selected a seat that reflected each person that died and I was particularly upset to see a little baby capsule representing a 5 month old baby that died.

5. Three whole years after the quakes much of christchurch is still a bomb site.  60% of the buildings that used to be in the city centre have already been demolished.They still have 8% to tear down.the christchurch city council has begin the massive creation of a new Christchurch, which is expected to take 3 - 5 years. Although this sounds a long time, it has given the people of Christchurch the opportunity to decide what they want their new city to be like.  It may end up being one of the most well-planned cities in the world.  

6. however, the damage is not only located in the city.  I drove out to Brighton and along the way it was devastating to see all the homes that looked practically new but were abandoned.  Some had all the windows smashed with doors wide open and were tagged all over.  Then you would see the odd house with people still living in them.  

7. Even amongst this devastation is hope.  I admire the people who have lived through this - and hope their dreams of their new Christchurch can come true.

By Brooke Pratt