El temblor ha dejado una veintena de heridos e importantes daños en edificios, aunque no se ha declarado el peligro de maremoto.
EFE - Sidney - 04/09/2010
Las autoridades de Nueva Zelanda han declarado el estado de emergencia en el sur del país tras el seísmo de 7,2 grados en la escala abierta de Richter, que ha dejado una veintena de heridos e importantes daños en edificios aunque no se ha declarado el peligro de tsunami. El temblor ha ocurrido de madrugada a 28,4 kilómetros de profundidad bajo el lecho marino, 31 kilómetros al noroeste de la ciudad de Christchurch, según el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos, que vigila la actividad sísmica mundial.
Dos personas se encuentran gravemente heridas y varios edificios han quedado destrozados por el temblor, que también ha dejado sin electricidad y agua a varias zonas de Christchuch, la segunda mayor ciudad del país y habitada por unas 380.000 personas, informa Radio Nueva Zelanda. Según un portavoz de los Servicios de Emergencia, cerca de veinte personas fueron atendidas en distintos centros hospitalarios por heridas leves y contusiones causadas por la caída de cascotes. Tras el primer temblor se sucedieron varias réplicas, mientras que las autoridades ordenaron evacuar el aeropuerto de Chrischurch y la red de telefonía móvil se saturó a raíz de la cantidad de llamadas efectuadas por la población.
La Policía local indicó que numerosas chimeneas cayeron desde los tejados, y que los techos y paredes de algunos edificios de barrios de la periferia de Christchurch se derrumbaron o agrietaron. Nueva Zelanda sufre cerca de 14.000 terremotos cada año, de los cuales la gran mayoría son de poca intensidad, aunque entre 100 y 150 tienen la suficiente fuerza cómo para ser percibidos.
Huge earthquake rocks Christchurch
Quake claims first life; Inner city fire breaks out.
By Press reporters - The Press
LATEST: Christchurch is still being rocked by aftershocks 15 hours after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which caused widespread damage. At 4.55pm the city was hit by its biggest aftershock - a 5.4 magnitude shake centred about 10km southwest of Darfield at a depth of 10km - since the 4.35am shake which has left thousands without power and water as night falls.
Since 4.30pm the city has experienced at least seven major aftershocks, including a 4.3 magnitude quake focused only 10km southwest of Christchurch at 6.54pm, according to the GeoNet website. Prime Minister John Key, who saw first-hand the devastation across Christchurch this afternoon, said it was a miracle no one was killed. "This is a very, very sizeable earthquake in a very populated part of New Zealand."
Eighty police officers from Auckland will be flying in to assist with general duties and recovery in Christchurch tonight. A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules is currently en route to Christchurch carrying Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) personnel and dogs. Forty two USAR personnel, their equipment and three USAR dogs from the Auckland and Palmerston North areas are on board. Two Iroquois helicopters from No. 3 Squadron at Ohakea have also been tasked to assist in Christchurch. They will be available to undertake aerial reconnaissance and damage assessment as required by Civil Defence.
Due to potential contamination of the fuel at Christchurch airport, a RNZAF fuel tanker is heading from Ohakea to Christchurch to supply the RNZAF aircraft. The CBD will remain shut overnight with police manning cordons throughout the area. No licensed premises will be open in the CBD, and members of the public will not be allowed within the cordon. Police are urging people to stay at home and out of the central city until further notice. There is a formal curfew in place under Section 88 of the Civil Defence Emergency Act 2002 between the hours of 7pm and 7am. The areas affected by this curfew are the CBD block between Kilmore Street., Madras Street, Montreal Street and St Asaph Street, currently cordoned, and the shopping centre and township area of Kaiapoi. Ad Feedback This is in order to protect the public from falling debris. Any person breaching the curfew can be arrested, and police are asking for cooperation so that they do not have to waste time dealing with these offences.
Westpac has announced a special relief package to assist customers impacted by today's earthquake in Christchurch. "Our thoughts are with all those whose lives have been unsettled by the earthquake, some of whom are Westpac customers," said Westpac Chief Executive Officer, George Frazis. "We understand the financial stress these situations can cause and want to help relieve that burden for our customers. Westpac is providing a package which offers practical help by giving some immediate financial relief." The package offers such relief as deferral of home loan repayments, a temporary overdraft and interest only payments on loans.
Westpac customers who wish to take advantage of these special relief measures or need assistance with lost credit cards or insurance should contact 0800 400 600.
TelstraClear is kicking off the Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker's relief fund with a $100,000 donation to the city rocked by today's earthquake. CEO Allan Freeth says: "Christchurch is a city of considerable importance to TelstraClear. We have had offices and staff there for many years. "Today we're just very thankful that, as far as we can tell, no lives have been lost as a direct result of the quake. "We hope others will now follow our lead and work towards getting this great city back on its feet." Damage to the TelstraClear network is still being assessed and crisis teams are working to ensure voice services remain a priority. "Our aim is to ensure we have sufficient back-up power to ensure our services are e maintained or brought back on line as soon as possible.
Scientists from as far away as the United States are on their way to Canterbury to deploy portable monitoring equipment to record aftershocks. GNS Science, Victoria University of Wellington and Stanford University seismologists will start to install the equipment around midday tomorrow and will leave the battery-powered seismographs for about three weeks to find out more about the mechanics of the main shock and rupture.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario