Christchurch Earthquake Update: Video Footage Of The Aftermath

Christchurch Earthquake Information

Local Emergency Phone Number:111 or 0800 779 997

Just an update on the 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake that hit Christchurch, here are the statistics that I read on the latest news article of the New Zealand Herald.

 
The Numbers
76 confirmed dead
238 reported missing
164 patients had been admitted as "seriously injured 80 per cent of the city without reticulated water 40 per cent of the city without power
$16 billion JP Morgan damage estimate
1000 number of rescuers by this weekend
40 police cordons in the city
1464 New Zealand Defense Force personnel directly supporting the operation
431 people had gone through the Emergency Department 20 people are thought to remain in the pancaked PGC building

Source: NZ Herald staff, NZPA

CLICK HERE to Read full story


Here's a video footage uploaded at Youtube by TVNewZealand showing the aftermath of the 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

If you want to donate and help to victims of the Christchurch Earthquake , please visit  the New Zealand Red Cross Website: http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate. They have  launched the "New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal" to support those affected by the recent Christchurch earthquake. 

All funds will be used towards the New Zealand Red Cross response to the disaster, including transport and provision of goods. As weeks go by, different needs will be identified and Red Cross, there for the long haul with your help, will be meeting them.



Donations to this appeal can be made to:

• Online at www.redcross.org.nz/donate
• By cheque to: New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal, Freepost 232690, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
• By Direct Credit Transfer to our Special Appeal Bank Account: Kiwibank 38-9009-0759479-00 and the account name is RED CROSS.
• By Direct Credit Transfer to our Special Appeals Bank Account: ASB 12-3192-0015998-02
• At any branch of PostShop Kiwibank, ASB and ANZ bank

would you like to donate from overseas?

Our sister national societies in Australia and the UK have set up appeals to help raise much needed funds to support the work of New Zealand Red Cross as we respond to the earthquake in Christchurch.

• in Australia go to: www.redcross.org.au or click hereto make a donation

• in the United Kingdom go to: www.redcross.org.uk or click here to make a donation

  Source: New Zealand Red Cross Website
  
   

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A Terrifying 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hit Christchurch, New Zealand

 A terrifying earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand. The quake occurred at 12:51 p.m.,NZ time today, February 22, 2011, a busy Tuesday. The epicenter was relatively shallow - just 3 miles deep – and close to about 10 kilometers South of New Zealand's second largest city. Christchurch has a 340,000 population. This is the second major earthquake that hit Christchurch since September last year.

As I watch the breaking news at Ten News, it was reported that there were unconfirmed fatalities, injuries, people trapped in the buildings. Live pictures showed the city center was enveloped with dust and smoke. Ongoing rescues of people trapped in buildings and many cars under rubble. The Christchurch famous landmark building, The Christchurch Cathedral, was severely damaged. There were reported road cuts.

Most of Christchurch at the moment has no power and with limited telephone lines. Several aftershocks were reported.

It was really catastrophic and the damage was massive. A state of emergency has been declared.

Here's a video  or footage uploaded at Youtube showing the 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake that hit Christchurch.

Read more updates of the Christchurch Earthquake here:

Updates: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/live-updates-christchurch-quake-4038261

Photos: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/live-updates-christchurch-quake-4038261/photos

More Videos: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/live-updates-christchurch-quake-4038261/video

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Jimmy Buffett Fell Off the Stage in His Concert in Sydney, Australia

I am fan of Jimmy Buffet and one of his songs that I really like most is the song "'Margaritaville.'' I was watching a breaking news at Channel 7 and  was reported  that he had an accident  in his concert last night at  the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney, Australia. Jimmy Buffet  fell  off from the stage just after completing a wonderful song caught in the video below. There were crowd of nearly 5000 people who were stunned and distraught by the incident. 

Jimmy was taken to St Vincents Hospital. A news later today said that he is expected to be released from the hospital sometime in the next 24 hour.

Credits: Video from Youtube by user grinningfish

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Assylum Seekers "Boat People" Tragedy at Christmas Island

A very tragic accident dominates the news here in Sydney today. It was reported  that at least 27 people including children died after an assylum seeker wooden boat crashed and shattered in razor-sharp rocks of Christmas Island, a place where Australia processes asylum seekers. This number could go up with fears that about 50 people could have perished. Most of the refugees were reportedly Iraqi and Iranian but it was unclear where their journey originated.

Customs officials confirmed that 42 people had survived the brutal accident.

Watch this video uploaded at Youtube by DAILYNEWSANDNATURE.



Related News: 

• At least 27 dead in Christmas Island refugee boat crash tragedy

• At least 27 dead in Australia boat tragedy

• 'They were screaming help, help, help' 

   

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JUSTICE CREW Amazing Dance Moves @ Australia's Got Talent 2010 Grand Finals!

I was watching the Grand Finals of the Australia's Got Talent 2010 Edition last night at Channel Seven and saw this group of eight youngsters named "Justice Crew." I'm not to sure how they got their name but probably because they are doing "justice" to the commmunity offering free dance lessons to the young kids of Australia. They are like-minded young guys with great moves and so inspiring to see their teamwork blended perfectly to deliver an awesome routine. They said it, in a Channel 7 clip that "they are like family, brothers looking for each other."

Their performance last night was simply spectacular, energetic, difficult and has captivated the entire audience the whole time. The Three Judges, Australia’s favourite ex-pat Irishman Brian McFadden, Aussie's one of the most popular broadcasters Kyle Sandilands,  and Australia's Got Talent alumni Dannii Minogue were on standing ovation giving high accolates and generous comments to the Justice Crew dance group.

I grabbed this video on Youtube and you can watch the Justice Crew perform on HD:

Will Justice Crew win the AU$250,000.00 grand prize of the Australia's Got Talent 2010 Edition? Well, it's up to Australian votes. Surely, they will have massive votes from teenagers, young kids, and dance enthusiasts.

In the past, a similar competition Britain's Got Talent 2009 had a dance group named "Diversity" won that competition beating Superstar Susan Boyle.

Photo Credit: Yahoo7tv 

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$71m Budget Boost for Sydney Freight Hub

Plans to create a freight terminal in Sydney's south-west have been given a $71 million boost in the Federal Budget. The facility, to be built in Moorebank, will integrate rail with other modes of transport moving freight across the Sydney basin.

The $71 million of the funds will be used to establish a project office and plan for the relocation of Defence facilities there.

The New South Wales Treasurer Eric Roozendaal says the terminal will help to ease the flow of of international and domestic trade. Read full story here

Source: abc.net.au

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Sydney House Prices Accelerating!

The news today is not favourable to new migrants (and also to first home buyers) wanting to buy their new homes here in Sydney. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that for the quarter alone, home prices rose 4.8 percent, easing from a revised 5.1 per cent recorded for the December quarter. Here in Sydney, prices rose 21 percent for the year and 5.3 per cent for the quarter! Sydney house prices are increasing and really accelerating.

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Abbott Unveils 'Asylum Seeker' Billboard

The coalition is turning to street tactics to take advantage of voters' dissatisfaction with the Rudd government over an influx of asylum seekers.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott joined coalition colleagues in Perth on Wednesday to unveil a mobile billboard, measuring three metres by six metres, which will show a running tally of boat arrivals since the Rudd government took office. Read full Story here

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Are Foreign Investors "Killing The Dream" of Australian First-Home Buyers to Buy Their First Homes?

Like any other new immigrant to this beautiful city of Sydney, Australia, our goal is to own a home. If we really decide to stay here permanently, one of the toughest challenge is to hunt for a house that is affordable. However, March figures shows that Sydney's median house price is $595,745 according to the Australian Property Monitors. It's a figure that break the hearts of first home buyers! It was reported that it is almost double what it was a decade ago. So who's driving the house prices?

A recent news on the television reveals that foreign investors are under scrutiny. The federal government has admitted its new crackdown on foreign investors is an acknowledgment that Australian first-home buyers are being priced out of the market. There have been anecdotal claims of foreign investors - especially wealthy Chinese families – 'stockpiling' Australian houses and leaving them idle, and of outbidding young people at auctions.

So what's the government doing? The Associated Press reported that "the federal government on Friday announced a tightening of foreign investment rules in an attempt to reduce pressure on housing availability. It means temporary residents wanting to buy in Australia will need to be screened and approved beforehand. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says changes to foreign investment laws will make it easier for Australians to get into the real estate market." The tightening of foreign investment rules require temporary residents to be screened and get permission from the Foreign Investment Review Board to buy a property, sell their property when they leave Australia and build on vacant land within 24 months or sell.

At the moment, it's really a challenge to just hunt for a house to buy. There's a big shortage of housing in Sydney. The same challenge if you are looking for a place to rent. Rent is not cheap and on the average it is about $450 a week.

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Sydney 'Cheapest City' To Buy Petrol in Australia

A news article in The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney reported that "Sydney is by far the cheapest Australian city to buy petrol, with pump prices dropping by 4.2 cents per litre in the past week. The national average for unleaded petrol eased 0.8 cents per litre to 128 cents, the Australian Institute of Petroleum said in its latest weekly report released on Monday.  The metropolitan average fell 1.2 cents per litre to 127.3 cents, led by the sharp fall in Sydney, while the regional average eased 0.2 cents per litre to 129.3 cents."

My experience so far is that the above prices are generally petrol pump prices in major petrol stations like Shell, Caltex, BP, or Mobil. Petrol prices from independent retailers that are normally located in most Sydney suburbs is cheaper by few cents.

While some major groceries like Coles and Woolworths offers petrol discount vouchers, I do not find it useful because their participating petrol stations are limited. One funny experience I had was with my Woolworth Everyday Reward Card which offers 5 cents off petrol. I went to a Caltex station to avail such discount and confidently,  I hand in my everyday reward card to the attendant at the payment counter. I must mention that the Caltex logo appears on the reward card. But to my surprise, the attendant tactfully adviced that only Caltex operated by Woolworth honor such card! Their Caltex station is not one of them. How will I know? There's no way I can tell. Whew! I was misled by the logo to be honest. So, I just smiled and walked away as if nothing had happened.

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MyZone Ticket Launched in Sydney

 

The controversial MyZone of the NSW Government will be tested today. It introduces a new fare structures on trains, ferries, and public and private buses for travelers in and around greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra.

Nine out of 10 fares are the same or cheaper under the new MyZone, although some ferry trips will cost more.  You can view the fare comparison at the MyZone website.  Are you saving some bucks or did it cost more out of your pocket? 

One of basic features of MyZone is that the number of Sydney travel zones has been reduced from 20 to just five. Commuters have the option of buying MyBus, MyTrain and MyFerry tickets, or a MyMulti ticket which lets them to travel on all three modes of transport.

 

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