Social Networks Face Of Hope In Disaster
February 22nd, 2011 | by Jen |Social networking sites Twitter and Facebook are being inundated by users in Christchurch wanting to know if friends and family members have survived today’s devastating earthquake.
A Facebook page, which was started after the September 4 earthquake, reveals the build-up to today’s big tremor began about two days ago.
Users of the site reported tremors and shakes as early as Sunday morning.
“Anyone feel that very big out oxford way,” Doug Winter posted on Sunday at 11.57am.
“Eyrewell is getting hammered at the moment, i reckon she’s a build up!!” Amanda Tiffen posted yesterday at 7.07am.
“Anyone else notice the ‘yellowish’ moon last night and wonder if that has something to do with the cluster’s of shakes we’re getting? (only felt 1 in last few days 12:48 and only because i was sitting down quietly lol,” Christine Parker posted at 9.28am yesterday.
“Whats happening people?? 18 shakes in the last 24hrs. Is this building up to the big one predicted for March?? Might have my dates wrong here but wasnt it a week either side of March 10th. Not trying to scare anyone…just sooooo intrigued by all of this now…..and shakin in my boots still,” Debbie Wagenaar posted about 20 hours ago.
Others tried to defuse the tension. Olivia McDougall posted 21 hours ago: “Is getting a little sick of people saying “must be a build up” or “these are foreshocks to something bigger” - people just need to stress less and smile.”