“The motion accelerated violently, vibrating and shaking. Screams split the air, punctuating the roar of falling bricks and crashing concrete. Homes broke in two, buildings collapsed, towers teetered and dust filled lungs. As the shaking continued, liquefaction erupted, silt burst to the surface and murky rivers flooded streets. Pipes twisted, roads cracked, tarmac distorted and paving sunk. High above the suburbs, cliff faces cracked and boulders tumbled, crushing, destroying.”
Early on the morning of 4th September 2010, a series of seismic events began to unfold in Christchurch, New Zealand. They would eventually take 182 lives and directly affect hundreds of thousands of men, women and children.
Magnitude 7.1 & 6.3 is a compilation of stories from some of these people. Preschoolers, teenagers, families, and retirees tell of the impact of the ongoing earthquakes and aftershocks, the emotional and physical toll they exacted, and their hope for a new Christchurch. They reflect the incredible resilience the people of Canterbury have shown throughout this devastating time. Some of the stories are poignant, some humorous, some shocking and some sad. All of them are from the heart and deserve to be heard.
Release date: October 2011
