Passing Thoughts #7 ~ For Christchurch

Pic by Gemma Wiseman ~ Subduction zones surrounding New Zealand.
New Zealand lies at the edge of both the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. To the northeast of New Zealand, and underneath North Island, the Pacific Plate is moving towards, and being subducted below the Australian Plate. To the south of New Zealand, and underneath Fiordland, the two plates are also moving toward each other but here the Australian Plate is being subducted under the Pacific Plate.
(More details from the Geology Department, University of Otago, New Zealand.)
This morning, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand's second largest city Christchurch.
The quake struck at a depth of 16.1km, about 30km northwest of Christchurch at 4:35am (0235 AEST).
Aftershocks are ongoing. (More details from Herald Sun.)
It was only last month, on Sunday July 11, that an earthquake measuring 5.0 rocked the North Island, just north of Napier.
~
Passing Thoughts #7 ~ For Christchurch
~

The earth moved today
A sunrise rocked with surprise
Eerie trembling worlds

Caring trembling worlds
Reaching out to our Christchurch
The earth moved today
~
Thinking of bloggers Stoneweaver and Marja from Dutch Corner in Christchurch
~