The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACT ESA) has marked the tenth anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand reflecting on its contribution helping out with the international response and recovery work.
According to the ACT ESA, several of its personnel were deployed to New Zealand within three Australian teams in New Zealand on 22 February 2011, including seven ACT Fire & Rescue (ACTF&R) firefighters and two ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS) paramedics.
“Within 12 hours of the incident, the first Australian Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team was on the ground providing assistance,” the ACT ESA said.
“Four ACTF&R firefighters formed part of this first deployment, their role was to conduct initial search and rescue operations, by clearing all buildings in the designated city blocks,” it said.
ACT ESA said buildings in Christchurch had already been structurally weakened in September 2010 by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake (and its aftershocks) which struck the Canterbury region.
“Although the 2011 quake recorded a smaller magnitude, devastation was far worse and resulted in the deaths of 185 people,” it said.
The Agency said USAR ACTAS Paramedic, Rob Wiggins was deployed in the third team sent over to help by Australia.
“Our task was to re-enter the red zone and search areas that were identified as buildings of concern for missing persons,” Mr Wiggins said.
“Once this task was complete, we were sent into the suburbs to undertake building damage assessments and to reach out to community members to offer assistance in making their buildings safe,” he said.
Mr Wiggins said the aftershocks of the earthquake were unnerving, especially whilst moving in and around damaged buildings.
