Photo by Andy Miah
Last November, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the country of New Zealand. This was the worst earthquake since the 2011 earthquake.
Per CNN, “The first event, a 7.8-magnitude quake, struck just after midnight Monday near the coastal community of Kaikoura, some 93 kilometers (55 miles) northeast of the city of Christchurch, the US Geological Survey reported.”
People fled from their homes as they were destroyed. Kiwis came together and those whose homes were not destroyed opened their houses to those whose homes were.
BBC reports, “But as is often the case when disaster strikes, New Zealand’s people have pulled together, checked on their neighbours and offered each other a safe haven.”
Unlike the 2011 earthquake, there were not many deaths. In the 2011 earthquake, 185 died. In 2016, at least 2 died.
Fox News explains, “The 2011 quake killed 185 people and injured thousands. So far, the death toll from Monday’s quake stands at two, with one person dying in the small coastal town of Kaikoura and another in Mt. Lyford, a nearby ski resort.”
In an interview, John Key said the government would seek to help the people by providing them with necessities such as food and water.
CNN states, “‘In the short term what we’re trying to do is make sure that the people of Kaikoura and the likes have food, water, help and backup.’”
Not only are the residents stranded because of a landslide caused by the earthquake, but also 1,000 terrorists who were visiting the area.
Per BBC, “There are believed to be up to 1,000 tourists stranded in the town.”
The 2016 quake wasn’t nearly as damaging as the 2011 earthquake, which caused much infrastructure damage in Christchurch. To the contrary, the 2016 earthquake only damaged some roads.
Fox News reports, “The 2011 quake gutted much of downtown Christchurch, with more than 1,000 central city commercial buildings and 10,000 homes destroyed. Monday’s quake cracked roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw from the 2011 quake.”
Earthquakes are a normal part of living in New Zealand, because it is on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
CNN explains, “New Zealand is regularly hit by earthquakes, because it sits in a ‘collision zone’ between the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. It is part of the Pacific’s ‘Ring of Fire,’ a horseshoe-shaped belt around the ocean’s edges where many earthquakes and volcano eruptions occur.”
The Red Cross was one of the first responders after the earthquake hit.
Tayla was among those to respond to the earthquake with the Red Cross.
She recounts, “‘When the earthquake hit in Kaikoura last November, the Disaster Welfare and Support team was deployed to help. I was tasked with being in the recovery assistance centre. Red Cross, Ngāi Tahu and family support services worked together on people’s welfare needs like water, shelter, and food.’”
Please pray for those who are still recovering from the earthquake.
CNN: New Zealand: Dozens of aftershocks follow deadly earthquake
BBC: New Zealand hit by aftershocks after severe earthquake
Fox News: Comparing 2011 and 2016 New Zealand earthquakes
Red Cross: From Christchurch to Kaikoura: A young woman’s journey
