Story: Historic earthquakes

Early morning quake

Early morning quake

Diane Jordon was in bed in her Christchurch home when the magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck in the early morning of Saturday 4 September 2010.

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Contributed by Diane Jordan (nee Charteris)

4:30 a.m. awake in bed the earthquake struck. A violent jolt, deafening noise, like a train thundering round and round. The house moved in all directions including up and down. Could not get out of bed, when I did, the floor seemed to not be there, I fell, bruised the front of my body. Unable to stand. I crawled out to an external door. It was freezing, I put some clothes on over my pyjamas plus a coat. The noise, glass, banging, plus terrible rumbling noises. Cannot stand, quake now shaking, I stand, hold on so tightly to door frame for fear of falling over. Shaking mild, I get a mouthful of water. I am so scared. I need to defecate. I know aftershocks are coming, I go to the toilet and try to be real quick, then big quake again, I hold on real tight to sliding ranch doors. Noise is awfully loud. I ring emergency on mobile. No response for some time, then ... husband rings me back, I am so scared, I am crying, another strong quake comes. Scary. Goes on and on. Then another big quake hits. Three quakes are so strong, I go next door to check a neighbour and I notice the bird bath is solid ice.
 

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Historic earthquakes - The 2010 Canterbury (Darfield) earthquake', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/community-contribution/32302/early-morning-quake (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 28 Mar 2011, updated 1 Nov 2017