Earthquake

I got home from work at 5.30pm today and I’ve cried on and off since then.

Christchurch is a beautiful city. I’ve been there once, toured with friends, went to Cathedral Square and rode the trams. And all I’ve seen since I got home are the horrifying scenes of carnage and rubble that now made up such a peaceful and picturesque place.

I live nowhere near Christchurch, but we still felt the shock here. Not just the subtle shaking, but the general fear of people running around, trying to contact friends and family. My sister’s sport teammate (and close friend) works in the CBD of Christchurch; no-one’s managed to locate her yet and there are fears for her safety. NZ may be a country of 4 million, but at times it feels like less than 4 hundred thousand. Everyone’s worried about someone they know, everyone’s got a specific name in their prayers tonight.

Even the news people were shocked and confused. One reporter was on-scene of an office building that had collapsed in on itself, trapping many inside. The reporter was almost as upset as those who had friends and co-workers inside. On the main coverage, there were times that the Anchor was obviously on the verge of tears and even times where I think she had let her tears fall when another feed was being broadcast. Hell, I feel shocked and upset and I have no real reason to; not compared to what horrors others are facing right now.

The TV replays hour after hour of footage. (raw footage availble here but beware as its shocking & heartbreaking) Boulders bigger than houses covering the streets, historical buildings nothing but ruins. The heart of Christchurch ‘the Catholic Cathedral’ is barely standing, even claiming victims of its own when it’s main spiral collapsed in on itself in one of the aftershocks. No deaths have been confirmed from its collapse, but a group of visitors were inside when it went and the news goes on about the one life saved. Below its broken facade is the square, where many terrified people walked to and sheltered before it fell. The News avoid the subject, but there are surely bodies buried there tonight.

Please keep those in Christchurch, particularly those still trapped in rubble in your prayers and well-wishes over the next week or so. They're most definately going to need it.

 
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I know its probably been linked everywhere else, but if you can: http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate