IALT: write a report about the Christchurch earthquake in 2011. I hope you enjoy.

Christchurch Earthquake 2011.

An earthquake happened in Christchurch on 22 February 2011 at 12:51pm. and registered 6.3 on the richter Scale.

Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that occurs in, on and below the surface of the earth.

On the 4 of September 2010 significant liquefaction affected over 400,000 tonnes of silt.  Streets and homes were covered in this grey silt and destroyed many homes.

First liquefaction occurs in saturated soils, that is, soils in which the space between individual particles is completely filled with water. This water exerts a pressure on the soil particles that influences how tightly the particles themselves are pressed together.

Christchurch's central city and eastern suburbs were badly affected, with damage to buildings and already weakened by the quake and its aftershocks. Most of the buildings crumbled easily. The old buildings of Christchurch were built in the 1800s. The bricks and masonry on Manchester Street crumbled with the second earthquake. This resulted in the collapse of most of the old and famous buildings in Christchurch.

While the first quake only lasted for exactly 10 seconds, the damage was dangerous because of the location and shallowness of the second earthquake.