Russ Steele
Ellen and I were in Christchurch several years ago and stayed our first night in a hotel near the Christchurch Cathedral, a landmark that has been a part of the city for nearly 150 years. The 6.3 Magnitude earthquake that struck yesterday has destroyed the building, toppling the spire. The Australian News.com has some stunning before and after pictures, with interactive side by side views here.
H/T to Ice Age Now for this link.
Update ( 02-24-11, 08:30) Amazing animated map of Christchurch area shows every quake since Sept 4, one by one by one here. It takes a long time to see the full impacts. Select the stickey dots option increases the impact. After seeing this dramatic dispay, and I lived in Christchurch, I would be hiring a U-Haul truck and heading for safety. Subduction-zone volcanoes never go extinct, only dormant writes one engineer here, and it appears something is happening under Christchurch.
Here is a view at the half way point through the 5040 earth quakes since Septenber 2010.
H/T to Ice Age Now for this link.