See How The Amazing Power of 'Mother Earth' at New Zealand's Earthquake
See How The Amazing Power of 'Mother Earth' at New Zealand's Earthquake
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WELLINGTON - These incredible photographs show how New Zealand's 7.8 magnitude earthquake lifted two metres seabed and exploded through the sand.
Dramatic aerial pictures reveal the scale of the devastation caused on the coastline north of Kaikoura, on the country's South Island.
Scientists say the seabed lifted an estimated two metres on the foreshore and admit they have never seen anything like it.
It comes as rain and strong winds battered central New Zealand on Thursday (17/11), threatening further damage just days after the quake killed two people and sparked with huge landslides.
More than 1,000 tourists and residents have since been evacuated from the small seaside town by a fleet of helicopters and a naval vessel since the 7.8 magnitude quake struck early on Monday.
While it is not the first time the island has been hit by an earthquake, experts claim it is the first time tremors have caused the New Zealand seabed to lift.
Marine Geologist Dr Joshu Mountjoy said he had 'never seen it before during an earthquake'.
'(It's a) very complex fault rupture,' Dr Mountjoy told Stuff.
He said some faults went side to side and others vertically and the after-effects from the most recent earthquake look as if they moved vertically and pushed land upwards.
"It will take a while before this becomes normal again," he said.
"That is unreal, that has to be at least 15-20 feet of upwelling to expose those pauas like that," one Facebook user said.
"Amazing power of mother earth," said another.
The enormous 7.8 magnitude earthquake not only tore apart the seabed, but homes and roadways, and some of the country's famed mountain areas.
It struck at around 12am on Sunday north of Christchurch claiming the lives of two people and causing extensive destruction. It was followed by two other major aftershocks - one 6.3 magnitude quake centred in Cheviot and the other a 5.8 magnitude which rocked New Zealand's South Island.
Kaikoura, a fishing town and popular whale-watching base ringed by steep mountains, was completely cut off by landslides covering the coastal road and rail corridor.
Government body Geonet Science estimated an almost one-in-three chance of another 7-7.8 magnitude quake hitting the wider region within the next 30 days.
Dramatic aerial pictures reveal the scale of the devastation caused on the coastline north of Kaikoura, on the country's South Island.
Scientists say the seabed lifted an estimated two metres on the foreshore and admit they have never seen anything like it.
It comes as rain and strong winds battered central New Zealand on Thursday (17/11), threatening further damage just days after the quake killed two people and sparked with huge landslides.
More than 1,000 tourists and residents have since been evacuated from the small seaside town by a fleet of helicopters and a naval vessel since the 7.8 magnitude quake struck early on Monday.
While it is not the first time the island has been hit by an earthquake, experts claim it is the first time tremors have caused the New Zealand seabed to lift.
Marine Geologist Dr Joshu Mountjoy said he had 'never seen it before during an earthquake'.
'(It's a) very complex fault rupture,' Dr Mountjoy told Stuff.
He said some faults went side to side and others vertically and the after-effects from the most recent earthquake look as if they moved vertically and pushed land upwards.
"It will take a while before this becomes normal again," he said.
"That is unreal, that has to be at least 15-20 feet of upwelling to expose those pauas like that," one Facebook user said.
"Amazing power of mother earth," said another.
The enormous 7.8 magnitude earthquake not only tore apart the seabed, but homes and roadways, and some of the country's famed mountain areas.
It struck at around 12am on Sunday north of Christchurch claiming the lives of two people and causing extensive destruction. It was followed by two other major aftershocks - one 6.3 magnitude quake centred in Cheviot and the other a 5.8 magnitude which rocked New Zealand's South Island.
Kaikoura, a fishing town and popular whale-watching base ringed by steep mountains, was completely cut off by landslides covering the coastal road and rail corridor.
Government body Geonet Science estimated an almost one-in-three chance of another 7-7.8 magnitude quake hitting the wider region within the next 30 days.
(rnz)
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