Tour of earthquake damage in Christchurch

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In February of 2011, in the second highest populated city in New Zealand, an earthquake damaged much of the central area of the city and sadly, 185 people lost their lives. It’s one thing to read about it but quite another to see the devastation firsthand. The clock tower has been left as it was, still showing the exact time the clock stopped at 12:51.

Taking a short walk through the area showed us how many businesses had been affected with streets closed, shop fronts boarded up, rubble lying all over the place and cranes and bull-dozers everywhere. We strode over the tram lines that once ran through the city and were disappointed to find that we couldn’t get near the once beautiful Cathedral. It may not be rebuilt if the master craftsmen can’t be found to restore it.

The cost to rebuild and the insurance paid is running into billions of NZ dollars. There was an earthquake about six months earlier which caused a great deal of destruction then and aftershocks continued until December of 2011. We were told that all the major Hotels collapsed and ones that were left outside of the area were filled up afterwards with construction workers, electricians and people who had lost their homes.

Although it was sobering to see a once vibrant city centre in such a shambles, the local people seem very resilient. Pavement cafes were open with plenty of activity where it was possible and the River Avon still flowed gently nearby and reminded me of the river in Stratford where punting is still a favourite pastime.

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Photos

The Clock Tower
time stood still on the day of the earthquake

after the earthquake
No 88 Hereford Street

central Christchurch
roads closed

earthquake destruction
heavy equipment operating

Hotel gone
rubble left untouched was the Holiday Inn

Christchurch Cathedral
once upon a time

punting boat
A River Avon punter

Comments

[victorian67]

Extremely sad
Going through the rubble with you shows us the extent of the devastation that hit the beautiful Christchurch so hard in 2011... I used to live in Russell, Bay of Islands and though I was in England at the time of the earthquake, I cried when I saw the cathedral in ruins. But like you say, Kiwis are resilient and very strong so they will overcome this tragedy ! Karim

[Mel and Howard]

Thank you for commenting. I can't imagine how terrible it must have been for you.