Iconic Church devastated - Cathedral Square
Destruction in the CBD
One of the landslides in Christchurch
Destruction in some places has been complete
Monday 28 Feb, 9:40 am, Br Des Fay has been moved to new rest home in Nelson as Nazareth House has been badly damaged with considerable liquefaction.
Power and water are still being restored so many people have only just got access to email again. It will take some time for regular contact with those in Christchurch to be maintained as this is a city still in deep crisis with aftershocks continuing to make land unstable and slip in some places. There are estimates of over 500 buildings in the CBD that will need to be demolished.
Friday 25 Feb 9:08 pm, A note from Debbie Frank - "Our family is all well and no structural damage to our home. Inside was a shambles but a day’s work had it cleaned up. I now have my mother living with us in the meantime as her rest home is uninhabitable with bad liquefaction inside, flooding and a collapsed dining room ceiling..." Debbie works full time with St Vincent de Paul in Christchurch and has worked with the STCC India Immersions and did a 12 month stint volunteering at a Christian Brothers school in Africa a couple of years ago.
Friday 25 Feb 12:15 pm, News of Alistair Malcolm and Hiliary Johnstone from Edmund Rice Camps in Auckland - recently moved to Chch and living in the central city. They are fine but their house is not. They are currently staying with friends and family and haven't yet decided what they need to do.
Friday 25 Feb 10:15 am, An appeal to support families of St Thomas of Canterbury College will be launched in the next week. Details on how to contribute will be posted soon.
Thursday, 24 Feb at 9:45, Paddy Dowling - ERN Coordinator for St Thomas of Canterbury is safe and well but has sent his wife and young children to stay in Blenheim with family. His home is fine but just across the road houses are completely ruined, demonstrating the randomness of how the earthquake struck the city. Concerns that looting could become more of a problem are there, though by and large courage and kindness are what is being shared by most.
Thursday, 24 Feb at 9:15, A second death amongst the school community has been reported. One of the students baby brother was killed by falling furniture.
We share in the grief of Christchurch tonight.
Thursday, 24 Feb at 8:54, It has been reported that approximately half of all staff at St St Thomas of Canterbury College have lost their homes in the quake. Twins due to travel up with a team of student leaders to the annual ER leadership programme in a weeks time have lost their father. This the first confirmed death amongst the school community. The full impact of what has happened is still coming to light. The school itself appears to be in sound shape with intact infrastructure but the all clear won't be given until engineers have had a chance to check it over.
The Canterbury Community Law centre which works closely with the ER Justice Trust has suffered extensive damage but this building is in the central CBD area and cannot be accessed for more information due to the cordon.
80% of the city is still without water or sanitation though 75% of homes have power restored. 98 people are confirmed dead with still 226 people reported missing.
Please continue to pray for the citizens of this beautiful city and especially for Keith Yardley's father as his father has been unwell with heart trouble since the intitial quake on Tuesday.
Thursday, 24 Feb at 9:25 pm, St Kevin's College in Oamaru notifies parents and students of their initial response to the Christchurch Earthquake: Thirty beds in the hostel have been offered immediately (and with food) without charge. 2. There will be $5 mufti day (or whatever you can afford) on Friday. All money will be donated to the Salvation Army appeal. 3. They are the 'North End' community drop off point for noon-perishable food which will then be passed on to the agencies involved in distribution. 4. All Students are asked to donate at least one item of non-perishable goods including bottled water. - Paul Olsen, Principal of St Kevin's.
Wednesday, 23 Feb at 6:15 pm, Paul O'Neill from the Community Law Centre has been in touch by text. He says 'its an amazing experience and brings out the best in many - hope yet for humanity'
Wednesday, 23 Feb at 2:15 pm, Cath Ford (from the Westport Edmund Rice community) believes all her family in Christchurch to be physically alright but all have been effected considerably by the consequences of the quake and are dealing with the ongoing aftermath.
ERJ Board meeting scheduled for next week and the ER Networking Board meeting this Saturday have naturally been postponed till further notice.
Moana Cole, involved with the ERJ Restorative Justice project in Christchurch reports that she and her family are well.
Wednesday, 23 Feb at 1:30 pm, Word has come through from Keith Yardley (ER Networking, STC Board member and Province accounts) that he and his family are ok. Cathy Harrison that has co-led India Immersion trips for several years is also in good shape. All are busy helping those that are worst hit.
Wednesday, 23 Feb at 1:00 pm, A conversation with Cluster Leader Br John O'Shea has confirmed that the Brothers in Christchurch are currently in a holding pattern saving water, rationing food. The power to the house has been restored.
Confirmed residents of the community that are safe and well are Br Terry McErlane, Br Don Murray, Br Richie Glen, Br Paul Boyd, Br Tony Johnstone as well as Br John O'Shea. Br Joe Lauren from the OLT flew into Christchurch in the morning yesterday and is with the Brothers at home. Br Vin Ives from Westport is also there. His 60th Jubillee scheduled for Friday evening has been postponed. No news of Br Des Faye at a rest home as yet.
Br Frank Perkins is also in Christchurch his departure to Melbourne and the Philippines delayed.
Principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College says they will contact all staff tomorrow. Today is about establishing safety in their personal situations.
Wednesday, 23 Feb at 12:15 pm, Christine O'Brien Principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College has notified that she is alright and that the school is 'ok'. The side of her house has been thrown down and all household items are broken. She says the city "looks like a war zone. No power or water, roads like bogs and broken, so much worse than last time."
No inside word yet on the state of the Canterbury Law Centre in Madras Street, (heavily hit by the earthquake and in the CBD) where Paul O'Neill works.
Any potential offers of volunteers to help in the clean-up process should contact the Edmund Rice Centre in Auckland.
AdminNZ@edmundrice.org
Any groups of ERN volunteers will be coordinated through St Kevin's College and the Brothers, so offers to help to do not overwhelm the ability to respond.
Wednesday, 23 Feb at 9:06 am, Word has been received from the Brothers community in Christchurch. They are all safe and it would appear that the houses are undamaged though household objects and artwork have been thrown to the floor. They are still without power. Ongoing aftershocks are still effecting the city.
Visitors arriving for Br Vin Ives 60th Jubilee celebration scheduled for Friday are of course being affected. Br Frank Perkins home from the Philippines is also in Christchurch.
St Kevin's College in Oamaru is offering beds in the hostels as emergency accommodation.
Tuesday, 22 Feb, at 6 pm NZ time, no word had been heard from from the Brothers community in Christchurch or St Thomas of Canterbury College since a close and shallow 6.3 earthquake violently shook the city of Christchurch in the early afternoon.
65 people are confirmed dead including one person in a bookshop in Riccarton. (Very near the Brothers Community).
Please pray for friends and family of the ERN that they will have the strength and wisdom to cope this terrible tragedy.
Follow the news of the Christchurch Earthquake via NZ news sites:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/
Both the Red Cross and the Salvation Army have relaunched their appeals to support victims of the quake.
Anyone wanting to donate to the red cross appeal can go to:
Anyone wanting to donate to the The Salvation Army appeal could call 0800 53 00 00 (in NZ) or do it online at www.salvationarmy.org.nz
