Thousands were stranded after a deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake, struck the South Island of New Zealand November 14. The epicenter near Kaikoura, about two hours’ drive north of Christchurch, was cut off from the rest of the country, along with the Hurunui region. Two people were killed in the early morning quake. Two emergency ships were sent to the region to help with rescue efforts as a state of emergency is in force for the region of Canterbury. Helicopters were being used to evacuate trapped tourists and locals in the region.
A deadly wave of powerful after shocks also rocked the Island during rescue efforts causing 80,000 to 100,000 landslides. A handful of roads were closed indefinitely. They are expected to continue for some time. Search and rescue teams, landslide specialists and building inspectors have been deployed, the agency said in a statement. Power is gradually being restored. Some of the country is now dealing with heavy rain, the effects of which are being exacerbated by the quakes’ aftermath.
Aftershocks have rattled the region during rescue efforts. They are expected to continue following the initial quake, which killed two people after it struck early Monday local time, New Zealand authorities said.
Kaikoura is well known for its prime whale watching and scenic vistas. Julian Wilcox, who lives in Kaikoura, said his Maori tribe will open up its ceremonial gathering place for people to use as a shelter. They also donated 800 lobsters to those in need.
“We can say one thing with certainty: there will be more earthquakes to come in this area,” said GeoNet, New Zealand’s official source of geological hazard information.
“It’s clear things aren’t going to revert to normal pretty quickly, and that it’s going to take time for things to go back to how they were,” Prime Minister John Key said. “I’d say it’s billions of dollars worth of money that we have to spend here but we’re focused on what we’re doing and we’ll keep up the good work,” he added.
Meanwhile, a New Zealand preacher is facing a backlash after saying that earthquakes could be caused by homosexuality. Brian Tamaki, leader of the Destiny Church in Auckland, posted a sermon on Facebook claiming such disasters were caused by sin and referencing gay marriage. An online petition calling for the church to be classed as a hate group and lose its tax-free status has been signed by over 100,000 people already and will be delivered to Prime Minister John Key.
The sermon was preached before the earthquake and then posted afterward as a prediction.
“(The book of) Leviticus says that the earth convulses under the weight of certain human sin. That’s natural disasters,” Tamaki said in the video. He also spoke about the city of Christchurch, which suffered a devastating 2011 earthquake which killed 185 people, calling it “everything but Christ’s Church… It had the highest murder rates, it was haven for those who were absolutely anti-Christ in every way. It was the representative from that city that first put in motion gay marriage in this country,” he said.
Key said Tamaki’s comments were “ridiculous.” “New Zealand is a seismically prone country, with a number of very well identified fault lines, It’s nothing to do with people’s sexuality,” he told a radio programme.
Mr. Tamaki defended his remarks saying that the response was “over-sensationalised.” He added that he was not specifically targeting gay people, but all types of “sexual sins.” He also said he accepted that manmade factors influenced the environment, but there is also “another connection to natural disasters.” Mr. Tamaki has long been an opponent of gay marriage.
“…and there shall be… earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7.
“The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.” Prophets and Kings, 277.