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More than two hours before images started moving to us on the wires of the earthquake near Christchurch, New Zealand, we started contacting locals that were posting images to Twitter and getting their permission to run the image with the lead story of our site.
The first image we ran was a before and after, using pictures people were posting from Google streetview compared with images they were shooting and sending to Twitter of the damage to their neighborhoods in the early morning hours ( like @jbergler and the image he shot, above, which was the first NZ image to lead msnbc.com today).
Several people were tweeting that with power out, networks like Twitter were where they were getting most of their news. Two days in a row, breaking news has shown us that citizen journalism isn't just a concept anymore.
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I'm stunned - I've been to NZ and loved the country and it's people...my heart & prayers go out to "kiwis".
yes I too have been to this beautiful country filled with wonderful people. my prayers are with each & every kiwi...Jackie and Erin, hope your blessed!!!!!
this is horrible, my prayers goes out to everyone in NZ
Thank goodness that this is not a country where corruption is the rule instead of the exception like Haiti. These people will be helped by their government and be able to rebuild. And it's only the old buildings that toppled. It's a miracle that no one was killed, at least as far as we know.
Horrible thing happen to such gentle people, My prayers are with the NZ people.
Born and grew up in NZ...All my family are there...Very worried as I have not heard from anyone.
It is the middle of winter and to be without the basics for any length of time is not good. Kiwi's are a tough bunch and they will get though it...
Very sad to see the devastation. Any quake of this magnitude and this shallow in the geology does immense damage to the infrastructure of a large city. If there is no loss of life it will be a miracle. Prayers to the people of NZ.
Prometheus
Prayers will be said for all of you. What a shock to all. Speechless but wishing you all strength to go forward no matter how bleak it may seem right now.
There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on...
For years I have been planning to visit this beautiful country and ride the backroads on a motorcycle! Having been through all the major quakes here in California since 1971, my heart goes out to all the Kiwi's. I will surely contribute to their recovery in any way I can. "God Defend New Zealand".
Our prayers go out to all of you in this time of distress....glad to hear no fatatlities occured.
I also was born and grew up in Christchurch. I am sick. This is so sad. I have people still there and I have only been able to contact 2 of them. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Glenn or Jane Brien please have them contact me.
- In the past 50 days, the Earth has experienced a total of 10 earthquakes higher than 7 in the Richter scale, when many years there is only 1 each month… Most of them are taking place in the antipodes region of CERN at great depth, showing inner disturbances in the gravitomagnetic fields of the planet.
- 2010 is statistically the highest year on record on earthquakes for all categories, except for the man-made surge during II world war carpet bombing in 1943.
- There are 3 possible ways in which the LHC can cause earthquakes:
A) If the magnetic field of the magnets drawn above interact with other magnetic fields in the magma.
B)If it made black holes or strangelets that are now in the center of the Earth, slowly eating the planet.
C) If it produces perpendicular gravitational waves, affecting the antipodes (Tonga, Fidji region), which is reaching a maximal with occurrences at very deep level (over 500 km.)
- Since the company just have announced it will start production of strangelets - a cosmic explosive that could big-bang the Earth - this 11/9, contradicting all its prior statements, a cautionary stop of that machine and serious studies on its effects, which so far have been carried only by employees of the company, is long overdue for obvious bio-ethical reasons, since this year is also on the path to be the peak on human deads caused by Earthquakes. More on this at: http://www.cerntruth.com
For years I've wanted to visit NZ and when living in London, had a physiotherapist for my knee... Anna, who is from NZ, I learned so much about a wonderful, peaceful country. I hope that if Anna reads this she knows she and all her extended family are in my and my family's prayers. Kiwis, you are an amazing nation of peaceful, creative and wonderful people. I know that you will be blessed with extended help from many people who have been touched by your gentleness and kindness you've sent out in the past. It is times like this that "what goes around comes around" and you will see such help and appreciation for all that you are! God Bless!
I lived in Christchurch when I was in my teens. I loved that city and it grew on me. I remember canoeing in the Avon River with my friends from the YMCA. Those were the days and now this. This is not the first earth quake to hit Christchurch and it will not be the last. My heart goes out to all my friends in New Zealand and hope they are all safe.
Years ago during my travels I had the opportunity to live and work in Chch. Nz. With its beutiful architecture and spectacular botanical gardens, There really isn't any other place like it on earth...the warmth and hospitality of the kiwis can't be rivaled anywhere.
The Next time you plan on vacationing in California or Hawaii where, everything is expensive. Consider taking a trip down to Nz. All you have to do is Sit on the plane for a few more hours and you'll be in paradise!