Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House (Closed) Further Christchurch Earthquake

Another quake has apparently struck Christchurch, with GeoNet reporting a magnitude 6.3 quake, 5km deep, striking at 12.51pm today.

While information is limited so far, the Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House is located in Cathedral Square, and so could have sustained serious damage, especially if the Cathedral itself (probably NZ's most impressive building, and the one of most historical value), and buildings in the Square have collapsed. Further reports have indicated that deaths are possible, but this is all unconfirmed. More information will start coming through as power and phonelines allow photos, reports etc to be posted online. The aquarium has previously suffered damage in the September 4 2010, magnitude 7.1, but this was relatively minor.

Hope the aquarium is OK down there, as well as Willowbank and Orana Park, and that all the staff and animals are well. Please update us when possible Chlidonias.

 

Hope you and yours are well, Chlidonias. Sounds like this one might be the straw that broke the camels back for many Christchurch buildings.

 

Not good. Also hope your safe and well childonias.

 

If anyone happens to know Chlidonias by name, please use this program - Google Person Finder: Christchurch 2/22/2011 Earthquake

There is no need to publish his name but if you can get any news about our friend using that service, please let us know that he is ok!

 

No results yet.

Hope he's OK. Apparently the Cathedral has been destroyed. Reports of many people trapped - TV just showed live pictures opf people being rescued from the 17th floor of some building. Airport is closed, 80% of city without power.

Not good.



Hix

 

Yes Hix and Southern Encounter is across the road from the cathedral.

 

The earthquake has been upped to a 6.3, and there have been 10 aftershocks since, some quite large. Deaths have been confirmed.

The Cathedral hasn't fully collapsed, the spire/tower has, and it appears some of the roof has caved in, as well as other damage, but the majority is still standing. Picture below shows the cathedral immediately after the earthquake this afternoon, although more damage may have been sustained, info sketchy about it atm. Other buildings in the square and surroundings are damaged/destroyed, however I have not yet seen any actual pictures of the aquarium. Although 80% of city was without power, it has been restored in parts, 50% of city should get power by tomorrow morning, but certainly not the CBD:

The aquarium does have back up generators, hopefully all is fine there. I think no news is probably good news, at this stage there is a large media presence in the city, and square itself, and no word yet on the state of the aquarium.

The airport apparently suffered only minor damage, so hopefully the same can be said of Orana Park, which is nearby. Likewise the Antactic Centre is presumably OK, as right next to airport, and is being used as a gathering point for American Embassey staff.

Apparently the earthquake also caused massive calving events on the Tasman Glacier, with 30 million tonnes of ice falling off.

 

As one coming from truly an Earthquake country and understanding how the Kiwis must feel now, I too would like to wish Childonias the best and hope to hear from him as soon as possible, even if going on Zoochat won't be the first thing he feels he has to do...

 

All my best to Chli, the aquarium and everyone else affected.

The Antipodes really are having a hard time of it just lately.

 

I've sent Chlidonias a text wishing him well...

People are understandably busy down there and the phone network is overloaded so it may or may not get through...

Wishing everyone in Christchurch the best, our thoughts and prayers are with you...

 

Terrible pictures coming out of NZ at the moment, our thoughts are with any members caught up in this tragedy, we hope to hear from you all soon

 

Word is that Orana Park is fine and was lending some help to Southern Encounter, which wasn't so lucky. No details on just how unlucky they have been.

 

Update from this morning:

The three wildlife attractions on the outskirts of Christchurch, all on the opposite side of the city to the epicentre:

Orana Park:

International Antarctic Centre:
Apparently fine, although have not expressly said so.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve:
Can't find any specific information relating to Willowbank yet, but it is in a relatively undamaged part of town. It should have power, as I believe the north-west suburbs never lost it, or at least it was quickly restored.

The Southern Aquarium and Kiwi House is located in the CBD, which suffered major damage. The Aquarium is within the area shut down by the army, and I believe access is prohibited to non-emergency personnel. Access may be possible to aquarium workers though, and those helping from Orana, based on Jay_NZ's info. 50% of the CBD now has power, hopefully the aquarium does, and its making life easier. I have seen aerial footage of the building the aquarium is in, and it definitely hasn't collapsed or anything, although that tells us nothing about the conditions inside.

Update: Apparently the kiwi have been removed from the Aquarium and transported to Orana Park, confirmed by Orana Park.

Best wishes to everyone down there, especially staff and animals at these locations, and Chlidonias himself. All of New Zealand is thinking of you.

 

Hope you're well Chlidonias, and hope we hear from you soon to put our minds at rest Thoughts are with you and others affected by the disaster.

 

Twenty four hours down the track and still no word from Chlidonias. Let's hope that he's just out of power and his computer is down.

Has anyone had any text communication - Hix, NZ Jeremy??????

 

I haven't heard back from Chlidonias but I haven't heard back from any of my friends down there that I've text at the moment...

The phone system (especially Telecom apparently) is really packing a sad so I don't even know if the initial texts got through...

I'm assuming the best and leaving them alone as they have more important things to be doing than reassuring me...

We'll need to wait for far more services to return before we get any info methinks...

 

Chlidonias and his family are okay...

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You've heard from him, Jeremy? That's wonderful news.

 

Yes via text...

 

Great news!

Thanks Jeremy.