Monday 14 November 2016

Earthquakes in New Zealand

You might have heard that New Zealand experienced a very large 7.5M earthquake this morning (14 November).  We certainly felt it here in Wellington, but we are all fine, and our house is fine too.  Many people have already contacted me on Instagram and Facebook, and I'm grateful to have such kind friends from all over the world.



The big earthquake occurred at 12.02am (two minutes past midnight) so we were all asleep when it started, but were soon woken by the rolling motion of the earthquake.  It was bad enough that we leapt out of bed and sheltered in the doorways.  Nothing fell down in our house, but there was a lot of noise and it was hard to stay standing.

We immediately turned on the radio for information, and were told that it was centered about 300kms from our house - so we knew it was big and other people would have suffered damage to their homes.

Now we know that at least 2 people have died, and there has been a lot of damage to roads and railways in the top half of the South Island.

It was very hard to go back to sleep because we were shaken, and we kept feeling aftershocks throughout the night.  School and work have been cancelled because building need to be inspected for safety.  So I'm at home with my husband and son, and we are safe, but still feeling the occassional aftershock.

You can look at these websites if you'd like more information:
www.stuff.co.nz
www.nzhearld.co.nz
www.radionz.co.nz

12 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

thanks for posting Wendy I knew you were in Wellington so not at the center but figured you would have felt it. Thanks for the links as well, I know I want to read it and here they are so consumed with the election coverage that they are not giving enough news on it - of course I might feel like that as there are New Zealand quilt bloggers that I read and wonder how they are. So glad that you all are safe.

Linda H said...

Wendy, I've been thinking of you all day and wondering if you and your family were safe. Thanks so much for letting us know, glad you are safe and did not sustain any damage.

Sewing Up A Storm said...

Whendy glad you are safe and that your home suffered no damage. I lived in Seattle for 12 years and we had our share of Earthquakes while I was there............nothing real bad but they are unnerving for sure.

Katie said...

Our NZ family and friends are safe too. I totally freaked when we had one small earthquake here a few years ago. I’m not sure I could deal with it! I’m glad you are ok. :-)

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

Glad you're ok and no damage to your home. Sounds scary.

margaret said...

was wondering how you were with the earth quake,thought f you and the Razzle dazzle quilter who I also follow she is okay too. Have heard there was another one this morning but on the other island, good to read your home was not effected but it must have been frightening

Tilly said...

Glad everything is ok with your family and house. Wish lots of courage for the people who are not so lucky.

Granny Maud's Girl said...

I just hope that there are no more deaths or terrible injuries. Stay safe!

Laurie said...


As soon as I heard about the quake on the news I thought about you Wendy! So I was so glad to open my email this morning and read your post. So thankful that you and your family are safe! I've never been through anything like that Hurricanes are more what we get here on the Atlantic coast of the US.

Ruth said...

Scary stuff. It's hard to appreciate from our part of the world just what goes through the mind at the time of an earthquake and I can well understand not getting back to sleep. Glad your family are all ok!

Linda Fleming said...

It's such a frightening experience...glad you're OK. We go through the same here in CA.

Rochelle aka Bella Quilts said...

So happy to hear you are okay, if shaken. It is an awful feeling to be awakened from a dead sleep by an earthquake. Prayers are with all of those affected.