Shaken and Stirred

At 4:35 am on September 4th 2010, Canterbury was rocked by a 40-second, 7.1 magnitude earthquake, the first major earthquake in the Canterbury region since 1922.

Thankfully, due to New Zealand's strict building codes, there were no fatalities, other than one death through a heart attack suffered during the quake, although two people were seriously injured.

Civil Defence declared a state of emergency, with the army being deployed to the worst affected areas. So far more than 400 aftershocks have been recorded, including three of 5.4 magnitude, and a major cleanup operation continues.

TO MAKE A DONATION

Visit www.redcross.org.nz

Phone 0900 33 200 to make an automatic $20 donation.

FreeTXT 'QUAKE' to 555 to donate $5 or FreeTXT 'QUAKE' to 333 to donate $3 from any Vodafone mobile.

Donate in person at any branch of NZ Post, Kiwibank, ANZ, National Bank, ASB, TSB Bank, and BNZ.

Mail a cheque (made payable to New Zealand Red Cross) to: Canterbury Earthquake Appeal, Freepost 232690, PO Box 12-140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144.