Deadly Earthquake in Christchurch NZ - OzChess

**JaK** · 02-22-2011, 05:17 PM

As it was reported in our Shoutbox minutes after the catastrophic event a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Christchurch in NZ, causing what the authorities have described as massive casualties (65 people confirmed dead so far) hundreds of injured and missing as well as extensive damages amongst which several historic and iconic buildings of the city.
More to come as soon as the information is available.
For the time being all our thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with our suffering brothers and sisters in Christchurch!

**Igor Goldenberg** · 02-23-2011, 10:50 AM

Rescue efforts continue.
Our thought with New Zealanders, I just hope that many trapped in the rubble will survive and be rescued.

**Ehm TO** · 02-24-2011, 04:31 AM

That's sad to hear. Used to live on the San Andreas Fault Line and earthquakes were never a fun ordeal.

**antichrist** · 02-24-2011, 05:23 PM

I have lived temporarily in earth quake zones and swore that if I lived there permanently it would be in a timber structure house.

**antichrist** · 02-25-2011, 09:40 PM

are they going to be allowed to build in masonry again?

**Ehm TO** · 02-26-2011, 04:27 AM

Originally Posted by antichrist

I have lived temporarily in earth quake zones and swore that if I lived there permanently it would be in a timber structure house.

Pardon the ignorance, but what benefit is a timber structure? I guess I can see that the timber is more flexible in tensile strength (think that is right) causing it to be less likely to crack like concrete. Would think you would want stabilizers on the bottom of your house.

**antichrist** · 02-26-2011, 09:18 AM

I lived in a concrete block home with steel rio etc that went thru bad earth quake, it was shocking, looked like cleaver chopped thru it, already built on top was a "flimsy" timber addition. Well with the addition the only thing wrong was a slightly jammed door, and it should have been worse off coz was higher up and would swing more.

I recently spoke to an oz engineer who went to Japan a few times to study their "quake-proof" buildings. The home are made on a extremely heavily reinforced thick concrete slab, almost a metre thick, he explained further how the posts etc somehow were incorporated into the slab but my bigger mouth mate kept interjecting so did not get the whole story. The house on top of slab was made of timber, beautiful timber, that can shake rattle and roll but stay up, maybe with a bit of extra bracing etc.

I know that nippa huts, that is bamboo huts hardly suffer at all in earthquakes, that just shake mate. I have been fru a few earthquakes and would only live in timber structures in those regions.

02-22-2011, 05:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
JaK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 391	Deadly Earthquake in Christchurch NZ As it was reported in our Shoutbox minutes after the catastrophic event a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Christchurch in NZ, causing what the authorities have described as massive casualties (65 people confirmed dead so far) hundreds of injured and missing as well as extensive damages amongst which several historic and iconic buildings of the city. More to come as soon as the information is available. For the time being all our thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with our suffering brothers and sisters in Christchurch!

02-23-2011, 10:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Igor Goldenberg Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 331	Rescue efforts continue. Our thought with New Zealanders, I just hope that many trapped in the rubble will survive and be rescued. __________________ For private coaching email IgorGoldenberg@bluebottle.com Computer tells you what to play, a good coach explains why. The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule. H. L. Mencken

02-24-2011, 04:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ehm TO Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 314	That's sad to hear. Used to live on the San Andreas Fault Line and earthquakes were never a fun ordeal. __________________ Camel - Welcome to flavour country!

02-26-2011, 04:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ehm TO Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 314	Originally Posted by antichrist I have lived temporarily in earth quake zones and swore that if I lived there permanently it would be in a timber structure house. Pardon the ignorance, but what benefit is a timber structure? I guess I can see that the timber is more flexible in tensile strength (think that is right) causing it to be less likely to crack like concrete. Would think you would want stabilizers on the bottom of your house. __________________ Camel - Welcome to flavour country!

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02-24-2011, 05:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
antichrist Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Byron Bay, NSW Posts: 2,821	I have lived temporarily in earth quake zones and swore that if I lived there permanently it would be in a timber structure house.

02-25-2011, 09:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
antichrist Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Byron Bay, NSW Posts: 2,821	are they going to be allowed to build in masonry again?

02-26-2011, 09:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
antichrist Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Byron Bay, NSW Posts: 2,821	I lived in a concrete block home with steel rio etc that went thru bad earth quake, it was shocking, looked like cleaver chopped thru it, already built on top was a "flimsy" timber addition. Well with the addition the only thing wrong was a slightly jammed door, and it should have been worse off coz was higher up and would swing more. I recently spoke to an oz engineer who went to Japan a few times to study their "quake-proof" buildings. The home are made on a extremely heavily reinforced thick concrete slab, almost a metre thick, he explained further how the posts etc somehow were incorporated into the slab but my bigger mouth mate kept interjecting so did not get the whole story. The house on top of slab was made of timber, beautiful timber, that can shake rattle and roll but stay up, maybe with a bit of extra bracing etc. I know that nippa huts, that is bamboo huts hardly suffer at all in earthquakes, that just shake mate. I have been fru a few earthquakes and would only live in timber structures in those regions.