The first earthquake in September, 2010 measured 7.1 on the richter scale with the second large earthquake in February, 2011 measuring 6,3. Besides the damage done during the two large earthquakes, additional carnage resulted from the aftershocks.
The center part of the city continued to be cordoned off even by Spring of 2013 when we made our trip there. It resembled what I would imagine a war zone to look like. The hotel we stayed in, although the kitchen and dining room had been renovated, was still in the process of being repaired. There was scaffolding erected around the exterior walls where cracks could still be seen. In many places inside the floors were down to concrete and many small and a few larger cracks could be seen in the interior walls as well.
Our room, however, was in good condition, as were the rest of our group's rooms. Initially only those hotels at the airport were relatively unscathed with others receiving varying degrees of damage. These were assessed for safety and had since either been repaired or were in the process of being done. Most damaged was the Hotel Grand Chancellor, standing twenty-six stories tall, which collapsed.
Inner city attractions, such as Cathedral Square, were hard hit by the quakes. As we walked around the city, in the areas we could go, we found many closed and damaged stores, restaurants and attractions as well as cracked sidewalks. We had to watch where we walked as some of the roads and sidewalks had lifted or were sunken. Workers rebuilding Christchurch were evident everywhere.
When visiting the Botanical Gardens, we saw no damage and nor did we when visiting the Canterbury Museum. However, we were told there had been some damage done to the facade of the building. On a visit to one of the families in the area, we were shown some of the damage they had sustained and heard harrowing stories that they, as well as others, experienced. They did escape the worst of it, they said, because their location was somewhat outside of the main earthquake zone.
We visited other homes as well, most with damage to walls and surrounding sidewalks. Many were without electricity for a while following the earthquakes. One of the oldest homes in Christchurch was severely damaged. It was obvious that it had previously been a beautiful home but when we saw it it was covered in tarps and was enclosed in a safety fence because repairs had not yet been completed.
It was heartbreaking to not only see the damage two years later but to hear the stories about people returning to their homes to find that the earth surrounding them had become liquified. With the earthquakes there was estimated to be 400,000 tonnes of silt because of the liquifaction. Many were unable to enter their homes, thousands were without power, but most horrific was the loss of 185 lives.
But when those we met talked about their experiences during this time, they neither complained nor felt sorry for themselves. All had a very stoic attitude towards their situation. Since the last two major earthquakes, Christchurch has become better prepared for any future catastrophes. Since we were there in early 2013, there have been other, although minor, earthquakes. It is a fact of life in this earthquake zone area.
In spite of the earthquake risk in New Zealand, there have been many years without even the slightest tremor so one should not hesitate to go there because of a 'what if'. New Zealand is a lovely place to visit and I would not hesitate to go back again.
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