It has been seven days since the 6.3 earthquake hit Christchurch New Zealand
Today at 12.51pm New Zealand time, there will be 2 minutes of silence nationally to mark the exact time the quake struck and so many people lost their lives.
This morning the death toll was raised by six to 154. And will continue to rise.
It has been a very stressful seven days for a lot of people in New Zealand and in particular Christchurch.
And the constant aftershocks are not helping. There was six aftershocks last night, the biggest 3.9. The scientists warn that this could continue for another year.
The funerals for the people who were killed started yesterday.
They included farewells yesterday for 22-year-old aspiring actor Jaime Robert McDowell Gilbert, who died holding his sister's hand after he tried to escape his workplace, the Iconic bar in Gloucester St, and Joseph Tehau Pohio, 40, killed by falling rubble as he crouched to help an injured woman in the Christchurch Food Court in High St.
The first funeral of quake victims was at 1pm in Sockburn, where mourners farewelled five-month-old Baxtor Gowland, who died of his injuries in Bishop St, St Albans.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/...
The total cost in economic terms is going to be very large. Yesterday the Prime Minister said that it would cost at least 15 BILLON New Zealand Dollars. Which equates to about 8 percent of NZ's GDP.
The cost to people's emotional and physical lives is incalculable.
The host of the Amazing Race and Cantabrian, Phil Keoghan is urging tourists to keep coming New Zealand despite the earthquake.
He tells TVNZ's Breakfast "the doors are still open" to tourism and Christchurch Airport is still open.
"If you've got trips planned to New Zealand, don't cancel."
He says the best way the international community can help Christchurch is to keep coming to New Zealand as tourism is one of the country's largest economic earners.
"We cannot afford a double hit."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/...
On a personal note: I can't believe its been seven days. It still seems so unreal.. that probably because I am watching it all from tv and not actually there. It seems like I am watching a disaster movie, except that its real and its in a place where I know every well. Its even affected people that I know. A old friend nearly was killed walking in the central business distract, by falling debris and my Great Aunt had to be flown out from Christchurch to Auckland because she suffers from kidney failure.
Seven days. Seven days since the ground under Christchurch shook.
Donations can be made here:
http://www.redcross.org.nz/...
http://www.christchurchearthquakeappeal.govt.nz./
Updated by GlowNZ at Mon Feb 28, 2011, 03:02:15 PM
The cost to rebuild has been revised upwards this morning. The new figure is 20 Billion New Zealand Dollars.
Updated by GlowNZ at Mon Feb 28, 2011, 03:46:10 PM
About 50,000 people have flown out of Christchurch since Tuesday's earthquake, Air NZ says.
That figure is expected to rise to 70,000 by the end of the week, as locals take time out and visitors leave the city. Air NZ has provided cheap fares to local residents seeking respite.
And considering the total population of Christchurch is about 350,000.. those figures are incredible,. But who could blame these folks for wanting out for a while?
Updated by GlowNZ at Mon Feb 28, 2011, 04:03:49 PM
Here is a story that really got me upset:
Dean Dunbar lost a teenage son in Pike River mine. Now, after seeing two homes wrecked in the Christchurch earthquakes, he is not taking any chances with his daughter.
He has sent Georgia, 7, away to safety in Wellington.
Last Tuesday's killer earthquake ruined the house Mr Dunbar's daughter was living in with her mother. The September 4 quake extensively damaged the dwelling he shared with Georgia.
Mr Dunbar will soon meet up with Georgia and her mother on the West Coast to start new lives.
"I'm jinxed, I think, mate. I'm starting to think, 'What next?'" Mr Dunbar told the Herald.
His son Joseph, 17, was among the 29 miners killed in the Pike River mine disaster in November. Joseph had moved from Christchurch to Greymouth with his mother, Pip Timms, to make a fresh start.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/...
Updated by GlowNZ at Mon Feb 28, 2011, 04:47:00 PM
Police think that the final death toll will be AROUND 240. :(