Christchurch... De-constructed by Earthquakes...

 I had only been in Christchurch a few hours...
Before there was a quake that rattled my  equilibrium...
It only measured 4 on the Richter Scale...
But the centre was only 5km away from where I was staying
and it was only 6km deep...
It rumbled under the ground, like a truck driving through the house...
Then the shake... The house creaked and groaned and moved.
The worst part was not knowing whether it would stop.

The next day I went for a drive...
Through some of the suburbs and the inner city.
These photos are random shots as we drove around...

I grew  up in Christchurch.
Seeing all the destruction is very distressing...
But not nearly as upsetting as it must be for the people who live here
and have lost their businesses and homes.

The photo above is the corner of Colombo and Gloucester Streets...
On the far left was the central library.
The big building is what is left of Farmers...
A department store that was in Christchurch when I was a child....
Then known as Hays... And had the Christmas Santa Parades.

This is the corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets...
The old church, like so many destroyed buildings...
Had been a familiar part of Christchurch for ever.

I don't know where this is...
With so many familiar land marks gone it is very easy to get disorientated.

Piles of rubble and cranes everywhere...
Also clouds of choking dust...
Which is causing a lot of respitatory problems and sickness.

Wire baracades, with in some places,
builders sheds and signs of re-building.

Some city streets...
Still cordoned off because of unsafe buildings still to be pulled down.

This is the Christchurch Band Rotunda...
Near the city centre... Round the Avon River.
Anywhere round rivers and streams was more badly affected.
The ground has sunk... Everything was on a lean...
So the top has been lifted off...
What is it's future I wonder... Hopefully restoration.


This is Fitzgerald Avenue... The huge cracks in the road...
 Much deeper than  you can see.


Fitzgerald Avenue... Next to the Avon River...
The road sank down and the riverbed came up... With Liquifaction.

 
The broken splendour of the Catholic Cathedral...


Hereford Street from the corner of Latimer Square...
Looking towards The Square.


Madras Street... On the left past the 2nd tree is the corner of High Street...
It was full of cafes and quirky little boutique shops.


Top of High Street looking towards The Square