[Gllug] Earthquake in Christchurch (NZ)

[David L Neil]

Dear All,

Greetings from New Zealand - a greater part of Greater London, and thank 
you for the  enquiries into my safety (or perhaps, hopes otherwise...)


Two days ago another serious earthquake affected Christchurch city and
environs. Although it was about half of the power of the one that
occurred last year (which equated to that which flattened Haiti some
months earlier), again the epicenter was close to the city and at a
fairly shallow depth. This time, buildings weakened earlier succumbed
and the scale of destruction is much higher.

Unlike last year, this time the event took place during working hours.
Consequently people were caught in the streets and at work in the older
buildings of the central city (more modern homes have been subject to
strict building codes, and hence maintain integrity). The number of
confirmed fatalities continues to rise with an horrendous number of ~300 
people missing and soon to be presumed dead. The number injured is 
already many times that figure.

The infrastructure in Chichi was still in a parlous state. They have 
been experiencing tremblers and more powerful after-shocks since last 
year's event, and indeed much of yesterday's damage occurred as strong 
after-shocks came through (one at half of the strength of the former). 
Accordingly it wouldn't have taken much to have caused yet more breaks. 
By-and-large the (landline and cell) phone systems are currently in 
disarray and needed for high-pri comms. So it is difficult to gather 
further/personal information, and inappropriate to phone locals... 
Without electricity many of the phone exchanges and cell sites fell back 
on battery power, and as night-time approached any solar feed 
dissipated... Water has been a fairly continuous headache for residents 
as there was work being done 'all the time' since 'the big one'. That 
all starts again with every pipe or wire, joint, and installation 
needing to be inspected and repairs prioritised... Water tankers have 
been ordered-in, and so as long as they have power, residents will be 
back into the cycle of boiling their drinking supplies before use... 
Electricity supply has survived reasonably well and the suburbs seem to 
be back on-line.


Other computer jocks, many our 'colleagues' on the New Zealand Open 
Source [NZOSS] list, are working more directly on the disaster, with 
modelling through to tracking personnel, databases of damage-reported 
and rescue or re-building work that will have to be done... In fact 
there are a number of New Zealand-led or 'sponsored' Disaster Relief 
FLOSS projects. Interesting stuff! Even to one trained (in past-times) 
by the Red Cross and the military, it is amazing to hear what they are 
faced-with as they broadcast for sub-assistance and 'contract-out' task, 
and how they are methodically restoring components and kicking and 
scratching systems until they are up-and-running again.

So there's a surprising amount of 'Internet' functioning - which is 
contributing to keeping people off the phone systems, as well as getting 
information and news 'out'... I deduce from some of their comments about 
inviting SMS and email/web-map contributions that they would very much 
like an "OMG" filter - anything containing the abbreviated phrase likely 
not including practical information... Others in the IT community have 
been offering assistance from office space to network equipment, 
bandwidth, and suchlike.


Fortunately I was many hundreds of miles away from Christchurch (further 
than from LON to Isle of Skye!), enjoying the ocean view from my deck 
and 25C warmth from the protection of my sun-umbrella; and as the event 
took place at such a shallow depth, didn't feel a thing - unlike the 
multiple Tropical Cyclones, and Anti-Cyclones that have
recently parted my hair, blown away my illusions, and 'stolen' much of
my crop of fruit and nuts off the trees...

If you're planning a trip to the South Seas (where life is totally 
relaxed and peaceful, just as you've always dreamed...) please don't 
hesitate to get in touch...

-- 
Regards,
=dn

PS  pleased to see Bruce offering to arrange some Lightning Talks for a 
GLLUG meeting(s), hope you'll support the effort...
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