State of Emergency - Day 2

I woke up at 6.30 a.m. today. It was a sleepless night for me cos we had regular aftershocks happening at short intervals. I don't think anyone could sleep well last night. I know we've faced so many aftershocks before, but  the ones that followed yesterday's big quake were clearly bigger, more aggresive and varied in terms of rhythm. That's probably not the best description for the nature of an aftershock but that's how I'd describe the variety of shakes we've had. 

All the local news network are featuring the latest updates on the quake and we get live on-site coverage 24/7. Although things are a bit better today with successful rescues being reported, many are still missing. Their loved ones are still waiting at the site, crying and hoping for some kind of miracle. It's just sad. Apart from the city centre, people in the East side suburbs like Avonside, Bromley and Sumner are also affected. There's no power and water. The liquefaction at those area is so bad, the roads are flooded. Lyttleton port is practically unliveable cos lots of houses are damaged. That's where the quake originated from. 

We are staying in a suburb only 7km from the city and yet we've been spared from all of this. So far we still have power and water, and there's been no sign of liquefaction. We are indeed very fortunate. I feel blessed for having the luxury to continue living in a state of normality when so many others are going without basic necessities. I feel so sorry for them especially those who've lost so much. Search and rescue operations are still on-going but not all victims can be saved. That's just one of the many despairing news you see on TV. 

Source: YahooXtraNews

More pictures here

Despite the tragedy, we were told to remain calm and keep each other safe. The first thing we needed to do was to get food supply. We were running out of bread, milk and meat so we decided to get some grocery at a supermarket in Hornby. Since the car was low on petrol, we had to find a gas station first. We went for a drive in search of one but most were still closed. After 15 minutes of driving, we finally found one in Riccarton. It was jam-packed.

The supermarket in Hornby was packed as well. I think people started panicking after the PM declared National state of emergency. This is the first time in NZ's history. Seeing how people were reacting, we got worried too so we bought lots and lots food supply. Enough to last us for weeks. Unfortunately, not all of the items were available. Bread and candles were sold out so we had to go to another store in Riccarton.

At the Riccartion store, the crowd was massive. They've set a purchasing limit for certain kinds food items like milk, bread, water and juice. Only 2 per peron. Paying was a pain too cos the queue was so long.

In the streets, it was a warzone. There were collapsed buildings, broken glass on the road, safety fence everywhere and army tanks. I think we saw nine tanks in total.

And that's how it is right now. Uncertainty prevails, with aftershocks hitting every hour but I guess we just have to deal with it. Thank you for your prayers and kind words. I really appreciate it.