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A loud noise followed by fierce shaking woke Cantabrians from their sleep in the early hours of Saturday.
Now they have emailed tvnz.co.nz and posted messages on our messageboard describing their experiences and feelings during and after the 7.1 magnitude quake.
Simon Moore said he was with a group of people on the second floor of a house at the time of the quake and they were woken by "a huge amount of crashing". When they got onto the landing they realised that the stairs had collapsed and they were trapped on the top level.
When the second quake came through they thought "it was the end", he said.
However, after about 15 minutes, the Fire Service arrived, "kicked down the doors" and guided everyone safely out of the building.
Another Cantabrian, who now lives in Auckland, went to Christchurch on Friday night for his friend's 40th birthday party. He said he fell asleep and what seemed like a few seconds later was "awoken by an almighty roar/rumble" followed by the "massive impact of the shock waves that got me out of bed in a split second".
He said everyone was struggling to move because the forces were so intense and he said the children were petrified. "I honestly thought the house would cave in," he said.
"It was like a giant person picking up the house and smashing it from side to side in very quick time ... unimaginably violent in nature."
Scottie was at work when the earthquake hit. He said he "ran like hell to one of the forklifts to take cover under the safety cage".
"I turned to look at my machine and a massive light fell from the roof and grazed my ear on the way down. It was without a doubt the scariest thing I have ever experienced and have no wish to go through that again."
Brendon Burns, local MP for Christchurch Central, lives in Richmond and has lost his home.
"When the quake struck, my wife and I were bounced out of the bed. We jumped up as best we could across a moving floor. We went into an adjoining bedroom where our daughter was staying, managed to get down the stairs and under the dining table to protect ourselves.
"The noise was huge ... a chimney fell through our bathroom that immediately adjoins our bedroom, so we are lucky it didn't topple the other way and come through the bedroom ceiling."
Anita Fogarty said she was in Christchurch for a medical conference and was on the 10th floor of the Crown Plaza when the earthquake struck.
"I called my sister, Helen Heaney, who lives in Riccarton and asked her to come and pick me up and as there were hundreds of hotel guests outside with no shoes on and they had freezing cold feet, I asked her to bring some socks.
"When she arrived and said in a loud voice 'who wants some socks?', all these people in white hotel dressing gowns flooded around her and were very, very grateful and thankful. Now her husband has no socks!"
Penny Higgins from Essex, England was one of many people to contact tvnz.co.nz from overseas. She said she had a text message from her sister in New Brighton saying their power was out and they were all huddled in bed, terrified.
Messages of support have come from all over the world, including one from Nivi Koning who said while New Zealand is quick to help other countries in times of need it didn't seem to be reciprocated.
And amidst all the tales of survival, a couple of more humorous moments were sent to TVNZ.
Zane Price said a few hours after the quake they had an unexpected visitor turn up in their backyard in the form of a "gorgeous Labrador girl" with a few wounds.
"We housed her, fixed her up and alerted the SPCA and animal control to register her missing. She spent two nights with us and we utterly spoiled her with gourmet food, lots of cuddles, a warm house and walks."
Her owner, who lived three kilometres away, contacted the SPCA and they were happily reunited. But the dog turned up on their doorstep again after the big 5.1 afterquake!
And Ben Lander wrote: "My wife and I rushed out of the house during the earthquake to wait it out on the verandah. The door swung shut and it was only as I was celebrating our survival with a happy dance on the front lawn that I realised that we were locked outside... and I was naked.
"Thankfully my wife had her nightie on and was able to beg clothes from the neighbours on my behalf."
You can share your own experience or read other accounts on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentgordy said on 2010-09-09 @ 13:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im my 51 years on this earth I have never felt so pertrified..my first thoughts was we had been hit by a nuclear bomb and it was Armageddon. Never ever want to experience it again
schicken said on 2010-09-08 @ 19:15 NZDT: Report abusive post
I thought the same thing initially. However, another quake big enough to close or shift the cracks further is likely to be heard first and all the kids will most likely be fine. If a child does get swallowed up, I'm probably not going to have huge empathy for the media coverage or their parents, but until then, let the region have a little bit of fun. Education about health risks regarding contaminated water may be a good idea for all. :)
thinkaboutit said on 2010-09-06 @ 23:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
More great coverage tonight TVNZ especially highlighting the situation at individual community levels where people reported they felt abandoned. All credit to those organising themselves into community working groups at this level despite this. Arguably the recovery process would be greatly enhanced if these community groups were psychologically and practically supported by establishing official coordination centres at individual community levels.
Madeleine Ware said on 2010-09-06 @ 17:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
You're making some good points here. Perhaps some of the donations could be towards purchasing and setting up storage of these sorts of things. Individuals are also responsible for making their own preparations. I clean and keep old 3L juice bottles filled with water. Every now and then I water my house plants with one and refill it to refresh it.
Madeleine Ware said on 2010-09-06 @ 17:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
Why are they buying water? Aren't there several tankers about the city giving it away?