NEW ZEALAND: Quake closes three universities

Three of New Zealand's universities were closed after a large earthquake caused widespread damage to the South Island city of Christchurch. The quake happened early on the morning of Saturday 4 September and registered 7.1 on the Richter scale. It caused damage to the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University and the Christchurch campus of the University of Otago.

No lives were lost in the earthquake, but some houses and buildings, particularly older brick structures, were badly damaged in the city and surrounding area.

The earthquake knocked half-a-million books from the shelves at the University of Canterbury, collapsed brick gables at Lincoln University and put significant cracks in the walls of one of Otago University's buildings. All three institutions were closed this week while engineers checked the safety of buildings.

That disrupted the studies of thousands of students and the work of their lecturers, but all three universities expected to reopen on Monday 13 September.

University of Canterbury Vice-chancellor Dr Rod Carr said the earthquake caused a small number of visible cracks in some of the university's buildings and toppled a chimney at the staff club.

He said there was other minor structural damage but many books were knocked from shelves and there were some chemical spills.

Carr said the earthquake caused significant damage to the university's James Logie Memorial Collection - one of the finest collections of Greek and Roman antiquities on public display in the southern hemisphere.

"Staff entering the premises on Saturday were confronted with damage which ranged from minor chipping to substantial breakages.

"Fortunately, one of the most valuable items - the Stilts vase by the Swing painter - is currently on loan to the Getty Villa in Malibu, California, where it features in The Art of Ancient Greek Theatre."

Lincoln University Vice-chancellor, Professor Roger Field, said the clean-up at his institution was hampered by aftershocks.

He said fresh drinking water was being delivered regularly to all student flats and checks had been made to the buildings.

The university provided food for students and assistance was available on campus for those who had any anxieties or concerns.

Students were encouraged to keep studying during the enforced break from university, but many got involved with the clean-up of damage in their neighbourhoods.

john.gerritsen@uw-news.com