Remembering the Canterbury Quake: Ten years on

At 12.51 p.m. on Tuesday 22 February 2011, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake caused severe damage across Canterbury, killing 185 people and injuring thousands. The earthquake’s epicentre was near Lyttelton, just 10 km south-east of Christchurch’s central business district. It occurred nearly six months after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The vertical acceleration of the ground during the 22 February 2011 earthquake was the highest ever recorded in New Zealand and one of the highest in the world. Chris Lynch spoke to survivors and a first responder. These are their powerful stories.

Jo Giles was the face of the regional television channel CTV. Her advertising show “Shopping with Jo” produced a loyal following. Jo died in the collapse of the building during the 6.3 quake on February 22, 2011. Her daughter Samantha Giles-Cook spoke to Chris Lynch about losing her best friend. [*WARNING** Video contains material that maybe traumatising for some audiences]

Kendyll was on the top floor of the CTV building with her baby Dita and nearly four-year-old son Jett when the 6.3 quake struck on February 22, 2011. They were in the waiting room of Relationship Services getting counselling for Jett who wasn’t coping with the aftershocks from the September 2010 earthquake. This is their remarkable story of survival. [*WARNING** Video contains material that may be traumatising for some audiences]

Latimer Square in Christchurch was used as an emergency triage centre following the powerful 6.3 earthquake which struck Christchurch on February 22, 2011. St John volunteer Graham Gillespie talked to Chris Lynch about working inside Latimer. [*WARNING** Video contains material that may be traumatising for some audiences.

Dr Mann Alkaisi lost his beloved wife Maysoon Abbas in the collapse of the CTV building when the 6.3 quake struck Christchurch on February 22, 2011. He continues to fight for justice. A royal commission of inquiry found the building collapsed due to a flawed design by engineer David Harding, who was working “beyond his competence” and was largely unsupervised by his boss, Alan Reay. Dr Alkaisi told Chris Lynch he will not stop fighting for accountability and has taken his fight to the United Nations. [*WARNING** Video contains material that maybe traumatising for some audiences]

This video is dedicated to all health care workers who looked after the injured & saved lives after the 6.3 earthquake struck Christchurch on February 22, 2011. Dr Mike Ardagh spoke to Chris Lynch about working at the Emergency Department at Christchurch Hospital on the day of the earthquake and how staff did an amazing job.

Maryanne Jackson was inside the CTV building on February 22, 2011 when the 6.3 quake struck Christchurch, claiming 16 of her colleagues & friends. Maryanne spoke to Chris Lynch about that horrible day and how she’s managed to cope. This is her tribute to the friends she lost on that day. [WARNING: Content in the video might be distressing for some viewers]

Quin Tang was on the top floor of the CTV building when it collapsed during the 6.3 quake on February 22, 2011. She was pulled out of the rubble by construction workers. The vertical acceleration of the ground during the 22 February 2011 earthquake was the highest ever recorded in New Zealand and one of the highest in the world. Tang shared her incredible story of hope & love for Christchurch people.

Broadcaster Mike Yardley had just finished his popular talkback show in the Newstalk ZB building on Worcester Street with the 6.3 quake struck Christchurch on February 22. For many months after the quake, Yardley was a reassuring voice on the radio for thousands of people traumatised by the ongoing affects of the quake.