| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (27 min. 58 sec.) ; 168713522 bytes |
| Summary |
They didn't stand a chance. When a powerful earthquake shook Christchurch at lunchtime on a February afternoon earlier this year, the relatively modern CTV building was reduced to a mound of rubble in a matter of seconds. 116 lives were lost. Now, as anguish turns to anger in New Zealand's second largest city we assess disturbing allegations that the building was fatally flawed and so many people didn't have to die.It was a day when otherwise trivial, normally inconsequential decisions would mean the difference between life and death. Canterbury Television (CTV) studio cameraman Tom Hawker had brought sandwiches to work but his girlfriend insisted they go out and get some air and a bite to eat. Tom left the building. Station all-rounder Matty Beaumont microwaved his lunch and ate in his office. Every story CTV journalist Emily Cooper was chasing that day had fallen over so she put her hand up for an assignment a colleague was too busy to handle and headed out. A routine appointment had brought police officer Pamela Brien to a medical clinic on the 4th floor.At 12.51 on February 22 this year, the earth beneath Christchurch shifted and shook violently. CTV receptionist Maryann Jackson raced for the front door resisting an urge to double back for her handbag. It was a decision that saved her life. She would be the only CTV employee still in the building when the quake hit to survive the destruction.116 people from all walks of life perished in the terrifying frenzy of collapsing floors and walls that followed. Just outside, Tom Hawker watched it all come tumbling down and estimates it took just 12 seconds for the building to crash. Shocked by what he saw, he wasn't feeling lucky - he felt powerless."I certainly did hear some sounds. People yelling out help. But then what could you do? I mean. There's so much debris on top of them unfortunately. What could you do?" - Tom Hawker, CTV But months on and as a Royal Commission prepares to probe the devastation, the widespread heartbreak and loss that settled on Christchurch is turning the outrage. Why did one building, erected just a few decades ago, collapse so readily and claim so many lives?"Nobody needed to die in the CTV building. It's a horrible thing to say, but it should not have collapsed the way it did" - Barry Davidson, Structural EngineerIn this compelling investigation, New Zealand correspondent Dominique Schwartz uncovers opinion from respected authorities that the building was an earthquake disaster waiting to happen."In a large earthquake we would expect that there'll be a lot of damage but that people should be able to exit out of the building, down the stairs. So for it to collapse the way it did, either there was a design failure or a construction failure or both." - Barry Davidson, Structural Engineer"I want someone's arse busted over this and held accountable. I think jail would be very nice. See what it's like to be lonely. Let them suffer." - Geoff Brien, husband of victim Pam |
| Event |
Broadcast 2011-07-26 at 20:00:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: NC |
| Subject |
Buildings -- Earthquake effects.
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Earthquake damage.
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Earthquakes -- Social aspects.
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New Zealand.
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Streaming video
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| Author |
Beaumont, David, contributor
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Brien, Geoff, contributor
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Brownlee, Garry, contributor
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Cameron, Grant, contributor
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Cooper, Emily, contributor
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Cooper, Mark, contributor
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Davidson, Barry, contributor
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Hawker, Tom, contributor
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Jackson, Maryanne, contributor
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Key, John, contributor
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Parker, Bob, contributor
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Patterson, Lynda, contributor
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Scarry, John, contributor
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Schwartz, Dominique, host
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