I'm sure most of my readers are aware of the earthquake that hit New Zealand yesterday. The death toll stands at 75 at the time of writing, but is almost certain to rise to between 300 and 400, according to the latest reports.
You have to look at those numbers in perspective. New Zealand has a total population of about 4 million people - less than many cities in this country. The population of the USA exceeds 300 million people. To gauge the impact of the death toll on New Zealand, multiply the likely death toll by 75 and apply the figures to this country. How would we be feeling if an earthquake had killed 22,500 to 30,000 Americans? That's how New Zealanders are feeling right now. In relative terms, it dwarfs the impact of 9/11.
For those of my readers who have religious faith of any variety, please pray for New Zealand and its people, particularly those who've lost loved ones, and the rescue workers who are putting their own lives at risk in a desperate race to rescue the survivors before they die of their injuries, or in further building collapses. For those who don't have any faith to speak of, think kindly of them, will you?
Please also consider a contribution to a disaster relief fund over there. The New Zealand Salvation Army and the New Zealand Red Cross are asking for donations. Both organizations are worthy of support.
Peter
16 comments:
Some amazing photos from In Focus (formerly Boston.com's "The Big Picture") here:
Earthquake in New Zealand | In Focus | The Atlantic -- [At 12:51 p.m. on Tuesday, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, near the country's second-largest city, Christchurch. It is an aftershock of a massive, deeper earthquake that hit New Zealand last September, and has already caused more damage, injuries, and fatalities than the earlier quake. Hundreds of structures in Christchurch have now been severely damaged or collapsed completely. At the moment, at least 65 deaths have been confirmed, hundreds have been injured, and many are still missing. Below are images from New Zealand late yesterday, more will be added as they come in today.]
Thanks for your thoughts, death toll is up to 103 now and still 200+ missing, watched a USAF C-130 coming into the airport yesterday, you have no idea how much of a lift it is too know that people all around the world are ready to drop everything and help at a moments notice, you should be proud of your USAF and USAR people, thanks Uncle Sam.
Mike - Christchurch
Thank you for posting your thoughts for our small country of NZ. We as a nation are absolutely stunned by the extent of the destruction and death that has occured here. The entire country is in mourning along with the people of ChristChurch. Because we are a small country, everyone knows someone or knows of someone who has been adversly effected by this Earthquake. We cannot thank our friends from other countries enough for the help and support that is coming through - from the field rescue and recovery teams from a number of other countries, to the financial contributions. Your thoughts and prayers are still vital at this stage while the rescue and recovery continues, but also to those who are now homeless needing support in ways that one cannot imagine during this time. Please do not forget us as your daily lives continue. Love and light to all.
Thank you for your thoughts and thanks to USAR people, they have brought some welcome releave for our own emergiency services.
The death toll would have been much greater if NZ's high rise buildings (or what we call high rise, more than two floors..)weren't build to sustain a few shocks. The difference with 911 is that this is an act of nature or God if you like, we have lots of eartquakes in this country and accept this can happen.
We hope American tourist will continue to visit this beautifull country, it is still one of the safest tourist destinations in the world, you may just like to skip Christchurch.Haere Mai (Welcome) to all Americans.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Home/tabid/1125/articleID/199311/Default.aspx
a link to some pics of before and after the quake.
thankyou soooooooooooo much for your USAR teams, prayers and support, It means so much to all nz'rs at this tragic time.
so far we have 103 confirmed dead. with 236 missing (with the police having grave concerns for those people. at least 120 were thought to be in the ctv building at time of the earthquake. some bodies have been recoverd. with more bodies going to be uncovered from the ruble as the recovery effort goes on. the ctv building is listed now as "unsurvivable" for those who are trapped underneath the rubble, this building is being uncovered little by little by the Japan USAR team as there are many japanese students burried under the rubble. :( along with a doctors surgery, a nanny school,and various other firms.
thankyou soooooooooo much USA for your team who have come to help a city and a small nation that has been bought to our knees in this disaster. the death toll will be very high for a small country. and a whole country is mourning the loss of precious lives..:(
The death toll is at 103, but I think thats just officially as a few hundred are missing. Hopefully not all are dead, just unsure where they are right now.
The support from other countries is amazing, and other rescue operations around the world are here helping.
Can nolt get over what's happened, very few ppl in NZ will not have a friend or relative that lives in the South Island.
the last person pulled alive out of any building was 3pm wednesday 32rd feb. the likelyhood of anyone else being pulled alive from the rubble is veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy slim. :(
but we are all praying for a miricle!!!
dohhhhhhh too many tears in eyes...
23rd feb @3pm was the last time someone was pulled alive from the rubble.
Thank you so much for trying to put this in perspective for people around the world. Its a very small degree of separation here and most people here in Christchurch will have some connection to someone who has died. I can truly say this was the scariest experience of my life. I was in the CBD when the 6.3 struck. I huddled under my desk praying for a miracle to get me safely to my family, as the ceiling came down around me. Today we have power, no water or sewage working yet, but power makes night less frightening. Especially with the aftershocks. Tears cloud my eyes with the hopelessness of it all, yet here you are halfway around the world thinking of us. Thank you xx Belinda - Christchurch, New Zealand
Thank you Peter for putting this on your blog and especially for putting the links for donations.
Barry NZ.
Thank you so much for this... it means so much to New Zealand getting all this support from around the world. It is extemely humbling!
Thank you for your kind thoughts and perspective! Our little country is in shock at this terrible time, yet we take heart from the wonderful generosity and hope pouring in from around the world.
Thank you also, America, for your quick response, your amazing USAR teams, the equipment. You, and the other countries that are helping, have given so much hope to so many people.
thank you America for sending USAR teams to our country in our time of need. Comradship is what it is all about.
USAR teams are Urban Search And Rescue, not USA-United States of America.
They are KIWI based.
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