Not a lot of sleep happening for Christchurch residents………Over 100 aftershocks already since the big one. http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html

After an unwanted flight diversion I was unfortunate enough to be in the middle of a major earthquake in Christchurch overnight.  At 4.35am this morning, an earthquake measuring 7.1 woke every person in the region with some incredibly violent shaking.  After initially exiting the building at light speed, I hesitantly decided to take the risk and re enter the hotel to retrieve my stuff after waiting 90 minutes or so outside for further aftershocks, and was lucky enough to get out of central Christchurch before dawn and make my way to the relative safety of the airport.  After much indecision over several hours, and with an airport out of action, I managed to secure a hire car and make the 6 hour drive back to Queenstown.  I just wanted to get the hell out of there ASAP, with the constant aftershocks being extremely unnerving.

This was my first ever earthquake, and hopefully my last!  Being stuck in a multi-story hotel when the quake struck was nothing short of terrifying .  Hearing and feeling the building shake and crunch as I raced down the stairwell was not enjoyable!  Thankfully no-one was killed in the chaos which is amazing considering the damage in the inner city and in outlying Darfield.

Sorry no photo’s.  All this action and my first and only trip without my camera’s………arrrgh!