Christchurch Suffers the Shakes AGAIN

[Palpatine001 57]

FOOTAGE OF THE QUAKE

And again Christchurch - New Zealand's second biggest city suffers another round of major aftershocks after the 7.2 in September last year.

No deaths this round - but enough damage and frayed nerves to really test the locals.

My dad is down there - all is ok but it is chaotic down there (I live in Auckland under 53 volcanoes - 2 being active)

Ironically an inquest into the CTV building collapse from the Feb 26 aftershock was adjourned after this latest quake

Thoughts continue to go out to Christchurch

Clink on link above for Earthquake Facts

[zahrul3 472]

Its just bad luck it'll stop sooner or later, otherwise buildings that aren't earthquake resistant should demolished and rebuilt with modern standards. Your lucky since the earthquake happened inlands, otherwise, TSUNAMIS!

Curently the pacific faults are very much active now, we had a volcano erupt here and a tsunami washing away entire villages in Japan.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

It is too bad that they got another one so soon. They are right on top of a fault, so what can one say? Best wishes to all, and hope things stay quiet for a considerable time.

[blade2k5 1,523]

There sure have been a lot of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the past 10-20 years. What surprises me though is that the San Andreas in Southern California hasn't slipped yet, the longer it waits, the bigger the quake it'll produce. Then there's the Cascadia thrust fault that scientists believe produces massive quakes in the 9+ range about every 300-350 years with the last rupture happening around 1700. Hopefully, none of this happens in my lifetime, but I'm not holding my breath.

[FreewayofFlight 41]

If/When a 8+ earthquake strikes the Canadian/U.S. West Coast, the world economy is going to take another hard hit. Hopefully the major port cities will be spared.

  Edited June 13, 2011 by FreewayofFlight  

[Ocram's Razr 964]

That does not surprise me. It might surprise me if an earthquake hit Tacoma but I do not fear death anyway. My life is good enough and I am not really depressed but I would rather die in a natural disaster than from disease.

[Meg 368]

I hope the people in New Zealand are okay. Any reports of deaths or injuries?

[blade2k5 1,523]

If/When a 8+ earthquake strikes the Canadian/U.S. West Coast, the world economy is going to take another hard hit. Hopefully the major port cities will be spared.

It's not a matter of 'if,' there will be a mega-quake along the Cascadia thrust zone, it's a matter of when.

[blade2k5 1,523]

That does not surprise me. It might surprise me if an earthquake hit Tacoma but I do not fear death anyway. My life is good enough and I am not really depressed but I would rather die in a natural disaster than from disease.

It shouldn't come as a surprise since when the Cascadia subduction zone rips, Tacoma/Seattle will shake like they're sitting in a bowl of jello. After that, you have to worry about the tsunami that will quickly follow a short time later.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

The San Andreas Fault is worse off than the Cascadia Fault and the LA area is the biggest source of entertainment and money in the country (besides stocks).

[FreewayofFlight 41]

If/When a 8+ earthquake strikes the Canadian/U.S. West Coast, the world economy is going to take another hard hit. Hopefully the major port cities will be spared.

It's not a matter of 'if,' there will be a mega-quake along the Cascadia thrust zone, it's a matter of when.

Three of the busiest U.S. ports on the West Coast are along the San Andreas Fault system (Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach.) Canada's Port of Vancouver is at risk when Cascadia decides to rip. Just a matter of which fault is going to slip first...

[blade2k5 1,523]

The San Andreas Fault is worse off than the Cascadia Fault and the LA area is the biggest source of entertainment and money in the country (besides stocks).

One thing you forget about is that the San Andreas doesn't produce quakes nearly as large as the Cascadia subduction zones does. So actually, Seattle, Portland and Vancouver would be worse off because there wouldn't be much of those cities left but rubble with the double whammy being the assured tsunami that would follow. Then you have to worry about whether or not that re-awakens all those nifty volcanoes in the area at some point, especially Rainier. Rainier blowing it's top would be a very bad thing for Seattle and the rest of the country.

[Joe 90 358]

I hope the people in New Zealand are okay. Any reports of deaths or injuries?

A handful of injuries. Most of the damaged buildings are still cordoned off from September and/or February's quakes so there weren't many people around them. There were a few more building collapses, but again these were already cordoned off.

A lot has been said though about most of the damage being mental now, with most people just being sick of the incessant shaking. This is the third time the eastern suburbs have had to be cleared of silt and other muck pumped out of the ground by liquefaction.

[catty-cb 4,411]

I hope the people in New Zealand are okay. Any reports of deaths or injuries?

A handful of injuries. Most of the damaged buildings are still cordoned off from September and/or February's quakes so there weren't many people around them. There were a few more building collapses, but again these were already cordoned off.

A lot has been said though about most of the damage being mental now, with most people just being sick of the incessant shaking. This is the third time the eastern suburbs have had to be cleared of silt and other muck pumped out of the ground by liquefaction.

Since September's quake Christchurch has had over seven thousand "aftershocks" and some of those have been pretty big quakes

[Ocram's Razr 964]

There are several faults near major cities throughout the west coast. The San Andreas is overdue and History Channel said that there is an underground fault with the potential of a 10.0. The worst earthquakes possible for Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, LA, or even San Francisco can level all of those cities. The likelihood is small but not negligible.

[blade2k5 1,523]

There are several faults near major cities throughout the west coast. The San Andreas is overdue and History Channel said that there is an underground fault with the potential of a 10.0. The worst earthquakes possible for Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, LA, or even San Francisco can level all of those cities. The likelihood is small but not negligible.

I watched that same program, but they clearly stated that was speculative of the magnitude this fault could produce. Subduction zones produce the largest quakes we know of outside of a space rock the size of Manhattan slamming into the planet. Either way you look at it, if Cascadia goes off and produces anything near the 1960 [9.5] or 1964 [9.2] quakes in Chile or Alaska, you can kiss Portland, Seattle and Vancouver goodbye.

[FreewayofFlight 41]

Vancouver, Seattle and Portland have some insulation from tsunami should Cascadia slip. Portland is 40 miles inland along the Columbia River, and Seattle has the peninsula to the west and the islands in the Puget Sound. Vancouver has Vancouver Island to provide some kind of shield from tsunami.

Seattle and Vancouver seems to be at greater risk for tsunami than Portland.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Also, I have always lived rather high up onna hill. If I were in any house I ever called home while the tsuni struck, the waters would get no where near. A 9.0 would be enough to ruin our houses but we would be safe from the water.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The last Cascadia slip was in 1700. It wiped out a forest on the west coast of north america by inundation and apparently the water did not retreat for quite a while. A village in southern Japan was totally wiped out.

When Cascadia lets go, and it is overdue, the city most likely to be destroyed utterly is Victoria, which just happens to be the Capital of BC. A really hard bang could even sink most of Vancouver island, which would expose the rest of the coast to the tsunami. All the coastal towns and villages up to the Haida Gwaii will probably be hit very hard.

So, my Seattle friend, I hope your hill is made of bedrock, or you might wind up in the middle of the rubble, then be thoroughly drenched by the spray from the tsunami.

[blade2k5 1,523]

Vancouver, Seattle and Portland have some insulation from tsunami should Cascadia slip. Portland is 40 miles inland along the Columbia River, and Seattle has the peninsula to the west and the islands in the Puget Sound. Vancouver has Vancouver Island to provide some kind of shield from tsunami.

Seattle and Vancouver seems to be at greater risk for tsunami than Portland.

You forgot about the tsunami rushing up the Columbia, though the effects on Portland would be less severe than Seattle or Vancouver, but it would still hit regardless.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Wait, I just looked up the Cascadia Fault and it is runs along the Pacific Ocean and is far off the coast of Washington. Tacoma has less water in the Puget Sound near it and Olympia has barely any. Seattle and Tacoma will not get huge tsunamis and Olympia will barely get anything. There is more water near Bellevue than Olympia!

Here is a picture:

Wikipedia also says that Cascadia fault earthquakes trigger the San Andreas Fault (and other California faults) to make earthquakes.

  Edited June 16, 2011 by OcramSeattle  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

When Cascadia goes, the whole west coast will get a bouncing. The Strait of Juan de Fuca will act like a funnel, and probably build the tsunami rather like a tidal bore. I don't think I've seen any hydrodynamic studies on this area in a force 9 quake.

[blade2k5 1,523]

Wait, I just looked up the Cascadia Fault and it is runs along the Pacific Ocean and is far off the coast of Washington. Tacoma has less water in the Puget Sound near it and Olympia has barely any. Seattle and Tacoma will not get huge tsunamis and Olympia will barely get anything. There is more water near Bellevue than Olympia!

Here is a picture:

Wikipedia also says that Cascadia fault earthquakes trigger San Andreas Faults (and other California faults) to make earthquakes.

Not everything in Wikipedia is fact. And of all the the EQ experts I've heard have never said it's a fact that one quake triggers another since there is no concrete evidence or data to support that theory. As for what you stated about Puget Sound, doesn't matter how much water there is, you're still going to get hit with a tsunami since there is nothing there to stop the water from coming. Any barrier such as islands, the water will simply go around them.

  Edited June 16, 2011 by blade2k5  

[Ocram's Razr 964]

If this is the new Earthquake Thread, a 5.0 earthquake hit Alaska with no reported damages or casualities.

  Edited June 17, 2011 by OcramSeattle  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

There are thousands of earth tremors a week. Only damaging ones need be discussed. These will be at least 6.0 unless the villages consist of grass huts.

[Joe 90 358]

There are thousands of earth tremors a week. Only damaging ones need be discussed. These will be at least 6.0 unless the villages consist of grass huts.

Usually yes, but not always. Chch is getting minor damage from earthquakes around the 5 mark because they are very close (<5km), very shallow (<8km), and often quite violent (high PGA), but its an unusual case that has all the seismologists excited.

They've endured some 7350 aftershocks since September and still counting...

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I seem to recall that the north island, at least, is sitting on a subduction zone. I hope things quiet down soon. They seem to be living on very shaky ground.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Alaska was hit by a large earthquake this week. 7.5 or something. Almost got hit by a tsunami also.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Was there any damage? The population is rather sparse and I didn't hear anything on the news.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Just to bump this, Melbourne had two earth tremors two days ago. Although it was only 4.4 and eastward of Melbourne, it was rather curious as Australia is not a very seismic zone and this would be the largest movement many of us have felt. It certainly kept the city abuzz.