Teamwork triumphs after second ‘quake

In February 2011, less than six months later, the city was hit by an earthquake of a similar magnitude, this time just 6.7 km from its centre. Here Alan Bavis, who emigrated to New Zealand in 1995 after 13 years in a variety of engineering roles with the West Lancashsire District Health Board, describes how he and his team have coped in the aftermath to ensure that the city’s many healthcare facilities can continue to operate effectively, delivering first-class patient care, despite the inevitable disruption.

Life was gradually getting back to normal for many people in Christchurch after the large 7.10 magnitude earthquake of Saturday, 4 September 2010, albeit with ongoing aftershocks. Rebuild plans were underway, insurance companies were working through claims, and the city was busy. At Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) the facilities and engineering teams were involved in delivering a number of strategically important projects, and also having regular meetings with our insurers, following up on the work required to remedy the effects of the earthquakes. Apart from the Boxing Day 2010 4.91 magnitude aftershock, which was only 5.12 km deep, and 2.10 km from the city centre, there was a general feeling that things were quietening down, with aftershocks decreasing in intensity and frequency. No one, therefore, was expecting the events of 22 February 2011, when, at 12.51 pm, Christchurch was hit by a 6.34 magnitude earthquake only 5.95 km deep and 6.7 km from the city centre. It was immediately apparent there would be large-scale building damage and mass casualties.

Numerous after-shocks