AndyLeighton.com - Unique Pictures from Travel Photography

Christchurch Earthquake - Eight Months On

I was in my hometown city of Christchurch recently, and I took a little timeout to walk around some of the areas affected by the 22 February Earthquake.

For a little background information on the earthquake, at 12.51pm Tuesday 22nd February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch and surrounding areas. The quake brought the city to a standstill, around 180 people from 20 different countries were killed, and many others were seriously injured. The Christchurch central city business district was severely damaged and was completely closed down and still is eight months on. Around 5,000 Christchurch homes were condemned and the future of another 10,000 remains uncertain plus there was substantial damage to most of the cities historical buildings. The city's buildings were already weakened from a previous magnitude 7.1 Canterbury earthquake on the 4th September 2010.

Around the Central Business District a 4-5km security perimeter fence was set up enclosing one of the city's designated Red Zones where entry is by authorised pass only. Business owners have not been allowed access back to their shops and offices (except a one time 15min - 2 hour window to retrieve important items) since the February earthquake because of the on going safety concerns by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA).

A Walk around the Red Zone

At the time of writing (November 2011) CERA is starting bus tours through the Red Zone for people to connect with their city centre again, the city bus tour is the cost of a gold coin donation. ($1 or $2)

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Below are links to a number of photographs I have taken around Christchurch City and Sumner eight months after the February 2011 earthquake.