Christchurch Earthquake Vocabulary

The following ESL Vocabulary list focuses on words used in the New Zealand media relating to the Christchurch Earthquake that occurred on 22 February 2011. It offers a selection of words relating to disasters and emergencies, although the focus is on earthquakes. Information and links about the Christchurch Earthquake can be found at:

The References section of the Wikipedia articles contain links to many online news stories, and the language links may provide some basic information translated into other languages. Note: Some definitions are taken from Wiktionary.org. Standard English Wiktionary often has translations to many other languages.

accounted for	Having been taken into account. Known. The location and condition of a person or object is known. People who are accounted for during an emergency or disaster are generally alive, with their location and condition known. See also unaccounted for. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/accounted-for
act of nature	An event such as a storm, earthquake, volcano, or other event related to the natural world and not caused by humans. In the past, events like this were often called acts of God.
aerial footage	Video and photographs taken from an airplane or helicopter. Aerial footage of a disaster shows the overall extent of the damage.
aftermath	That which happens after, that which follows. Has a strongly negative connotation in most contexts, implying a preceding catastrophe. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/aftermath
aftershock	An Aftershock is a smaller earthquake which comes after a large earthquake (the main shock) in the same area. Simple English Links: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftershock English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/aftershock http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftershock Christchurch has had more than 4,000 aftershocks following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck at 4:35 am September 4, 2010.
agony	Extreme pain, both physical pain and emotional distress. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/agony
amputate, amputated, amputations	To surgically remove a part of the body, especially a limb. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/amputate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amputation
appeals (for donations)	To ask for or request donations. To appeal for donations. Example: “Quake appeals have been launched.”
blown away	Idiom meaning to impress greatly. Example: “A woman was blown away by the support offered to her by strangers.” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blow_away
Canterbury	A province on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_Province
casualty, casualties	A casualty is a person who has been hurt, even killed, in an accident, or an act of violence. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/casualty English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/casualty
catastrophe, catastrophic	A violent, sudden and unlucky change, which makes very big problems. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/catastrophe English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/catastrophe http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/catastrophic
Christchurch	A New Zealand city with the second highest number of people living there. It is located on the east coast of the South Island, within the province of Canterbury. The Māori name for Christchurch is Ōtautahi, which means “the place of Tautahi”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch
Civil Defence	The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management is responsible for planning and preparedness for large scale disasters and emergencies. Official Website: http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/
comes to hand	To become available. Example: “police will provide information as it comes to hand.” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/come_to_hand
compassion, compassionate	If you have compassion, you are aware of the pain of other people and want to help make it better. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/compassion English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/compassion http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/compassionate
condolences	Comfort, support, or sympathy offered to the family and friends of somebody who has died. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/condolences
coordinate, coordinating	To synchronize activities, actions and events. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coordinate
creaking at the seams	Full to capacity. No more room. Example: “emergency centres are creaking at the seams”
darkest day	The worst day. A very bad event has happened, and there is little or no comparison. Example: “We may be witnessing New Zealand’s darkest day” (Prime Minister John Key)
deadly	Lethal. Causing death. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/deadly
death toll	The number of dead as a result of a war, natural disaster or other incident. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/death_toll
debris	The bits of something that are left after an object has been destroyed; rubble, wreckage. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/debris English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/debris
deceased	No longer alive. Dead. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/deceased
defence forces	A general term for the military. It includes air force, army, and navy personnel.
destroy, destroyed	To damage beyond use or repair. If you destroy something, you break it or make it not exist anymore. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/destroy English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/destroy
details are sketchy	Details are incomplete. The factual nature of the details are not known or confirmed. A sketch is a quick drawing, often lacking a lot of detail.
devastate	To ruin many or all things over a large area, such as most or all buildings of a city. Example: “A scene of utter devastation.” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/devastate http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/devastation
disaster	A disaster is a serious problem. An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/disaster English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/disaster http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/disastrous
disruption	An interruption to the regular flow or sequence of something. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/disruption
distress, distressing, distressingly	Serious danger. Cause of unhappiness. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/distress English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/distress
donation, donating	A donation is a gift of money or something useful to a person or organization. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/donation English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/donation
earthquake, quake	A shaking of the Earth, caused by volcanic activity or movement around geologic faults. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/earthquake http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/earthquake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake
emergency	An emergency is a serious situation that needs to be dealt with very quickly. A situation such as a natural or man-made disaster requiring urgent assistance. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/emergency English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/emergency
emergency department	The department of a hospital that treats very serious and life-threatening illnesses or injuries.
emergency generators	Electrical generators that are used during emergencies. These are usually powered by diesel, and are small enough to be transported by truck.
emergency services	A general term to refer to police, fire, and ambulance service.
en route	On the way. Travelling to. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/en_route
epicentre	The point on the land or water surface directly above the focus of an earthquake. Simple English Links: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicenter English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/epicentre http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicenter
evacuate, evacuated	If you evacuate, you leave because of danger. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/evacuate English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/evacuate
evacuees	A person who has been evacuated from a place, such as during a war or disaster. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/evacuee
fatalities, multiple fatalities	Deaths. Multiple deaths. People who have died in an accident or disaster. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fatality
fault line	The line formed by the intersection of the plane of a fault with the surface of the Earth. A fault is a fracture, or break, in the Earth’s crust. This is where sections of rock move past each other. Simple English Links: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fault_(geology) English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fault_(geology)
fighting for their lives	In a critical condition. If someone is fighting for their life it means they have had a serious injury or illness which may kill them. Even with medical attention there is a high chance that they will die. Literally it means that if you lose the fight, you will die.
gastro illnesses	A gastro-intestinal illness is an illness of the stomach, such as food poisoning or from drinking contaminated water. Example: “People need to boil water to avoid getting gastro illnesses.”
geologist, geologists	A person who is skilled at geology. Geology is the science that studies the earth. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/geology English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/geologist http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/geology
get in touch	Make contact with.
grieve	To feel very sad about something. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/grieve
grim	Very serious. If you are grim you are very serious, and might be thinking about bad things like loss, sadness, or death. Example: “A very grim situation.” Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/grim English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/grim
half-mast, half-masted	When a flag is only raised half-way up the flagpole, generally as a sign of respect for people who have lost their lives in war or a disaster. Example: “The NZ flag to be half-masted / flown at half-mast.”
hamper, hampering	To slow the progress of something. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hamper
hard times	Difficult times, such as during the process of rescuing people during a disaster. Example: “These are hard times.”
hazard	An obstacle or other feature which causes risk or danger. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hazard
in the wake of	Following. As a result of. Example: “In the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_the_wake_of
influx	A large movement, usually sudden, in or into something. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/influx English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/influx
infrastructure	A place’s infrastructure is the basic public works such as roads, electricity & water supply, and schools, that allow it to function. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/infrastructure English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/infrastructure
intensive care	The support and monitoring of critically ill patients, especially by the use of instrumentation and specialized staff and equipment. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/intensive_care
key concern	A very important concern. Something that needs to be a primary focus of attention or action. Example: “Water is a key concern.”
liquefaction	In geology, liquefaction refers to the process by which saturated, unconsolidated sediments are transformed into a substance that acts like a liquid. Earthquakes can cause liquefaction where loosely packed, water-logged sediments come loose from the intense shaking of the earthquake. English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefaction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_liquefaction
London blitz	The Blitz was the intense bombing of England and London by German warplanes during World War II. Comparing something with the Blitz is to compare a disaster zone with a warzone. Blitz comes from the German words Blitzkrieg, meaning “lighting war”. Example: “Phil Goff has described the scene in Christchurch as like the London blitz.” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Blitz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz
magnitude	The exact or approximate size, extent or importance of something. In geology, a measure of the energy of an earthquake (see also Richter scale). Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/magnitude http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_magnitude_scale English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_magnitude_scale
medical facilities	A general term for hospitals and medical centres.
minor injuries	Injuries that are not too serious, including such things as cuts and bruises. English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbreviated_Injury_Scale
miracle, miracles	A miracle is an amazing thing that happened that seemed very unlikely to happen. In the case of disasters this usually refers to finding people alive after a long period of time, or in a situation you wouldn’t have expected them to survive. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/miracle English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/miracle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle
moderate injuries	Injuries that are more serious than minor injuries, but unlikely to be life threatening. English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbreviated_Injury_Scale
monsoon buckets	A large bucket suspended from a helicopter, which is used to transport water to fires. Also known as a helicopter bucket. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/helicopter_bucket http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_bucket
morgue	A building or room where dead bodies are kept before their proper burial or cremation. See also mortuary. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/morgue
mortuary	A place where dead bodies are stored prior to burial or cremation. See also morgue. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mortuary
newsroom	The office of a news organisation, especially that part of it where the journalists work and news stories are processed. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/newsroom
painstaking job	A job that must be done slowly, carefully, with a lot of concentration and effort, such as rescue work. Painstaking means carefully attentive to details; diligent in performing a process or procedure. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/painstaking
portaloos	Portable toilets.
postpone	To delay or put off an event, appointment etc. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/postpone
power cut, power out, power outage	A disruption or interruption to the supply of electricity. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/power_cut
preparing for the worst	To prepare mentally and emotionally for a possible bad outcome, often while hoping for some good to come out of it. In disasters, preparing for the worst generally means anticipating that people will die or have already died.
press conference	A question and answer session with members of television, print and other media. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/press_conference
profound, profoundly	Very deep; very serious. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/profound
recap, recapping	To summarise, sum up. The news stories often recap (summarise) the main events of the day. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/recap
rescue	When you rescue someone, you save the person from an emergency. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/rescue English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rescue
rescue team	A team of people sent to a disaster area to search for people and save them from danger, often getting them out of a difficult and dangerous place (such as a collapsed building) so they can be taken to hospital.
Richter scale	The Richter magnitude scale is a scale of numbers used to tell the size of earthquakes. Charles Richter developed the Richter Scale in 1935. Simple English Links: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_scale English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_scale
rubble	The broken remains of an object, usually rock or masonry. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubble
run out, run low, run short of	To use up; to consume all of something. Example: “Supplies of petrol are running out.” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/run_out
search and rescue, SAR	The search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_and_rescue
seismic	Related to, or caused by an earthquake or other vibration of the Earth. Simple English Links: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismology English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/seismic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismology
serious injuries	Injuries that are quite bad. English Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbreviated_Injury_Scale
shock	Sudden, heavy impact. Sometimes used to refer to earthquakes. Example: “Another shock has just struck.” Something so surprising that it is stunning. Example: “People are in shock.” Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/shock English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shock
sideways motion	From side to side, as opposed to up and down.
significant loss of life	Many people have died, more than just one or two.
solidarity	Willingness to give psychological and/or material support when another person is in a difficult position or needs affection. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/solidarity
speculation	To suggest something is true or might be true, without having the facts. Often in disasters there is a lot of speculation about the number of people who have been killed or survived. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/speculation
state of emergency	A government decree that a particular situation requires the implementation of prearranged responses on a large scale. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/state_of_emergency
steel ourselves	To prepare for bad news or events. To become hard like steel. Example: “It’s not going to be good news and we need to steel ourselves to understand that.” (Christchurch Mayor, Bob Parker)
stranded	To be left in a difficult situation. Example “Tourists are stranded at the airport.” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/strand http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stranded
stretchered out	To be carried on a stretcher, for example from an accident to a ambulance, before being transported to hospital. Example: “Three people have been stretchered out alive.”
structural damage	Damage to the structure of a building, such as the walls and foundations, as opposed to broken windows and non-essential parts.
survivor, survivors	One who survives; one who endures through disaster or hardship. Someone who is not killed during a disaster. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/survivor
taskforce, task force	A group of people working towards a particular task, project, or activity, especially assigned in a particular capacity. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/task_force
temporary shelter	A shelter is a refuge, haven or other cover or protection from something. During a disaster, temporary shelter often includes tents or temporary structures than are built quickly to stay out of the wind and rain. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/shelter English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shelter
thoughts go out	Used to show you are thinking of someone or something. Example: “Our thoughts go out to the people affected in the Christchurch earthquake.”
time is of the essence	Used to express a need for haste in action or response. Example: “The government is willing to throw everything it can at the rescue effort, and time is of the essence.” (Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English) English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/time_is_of_the_essence
to throw everything it can	To do everything within its power. To try all options. Example: “The government is willing to throw everything it can at the rescue effort, and time is of the essence.” (Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English)
tragedy	A disastrous event, especially one involving great loss of life or injury. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tragedy
trapped	To be caught or stuck somewhere and unable to get out. During an earthquake, people are often in collapsed buildings and unable to get out. A trap is a device for catching animals, from which they are unable to escape. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/trap English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trap
trauma, traumatic	A serious injury to the body, often resulting from violence or an accident. An emotional wound leading to psychological injury. An event that causes great distress. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trauma
triage centres	Triage is the process of sorting patients so as to determine the order in which they will be treated (for example, by assigning precedence according to the urgency of illness or injury). A triage centre is a place that is establish to bring injured people to assess their injuries. Example: “Triage centres have been set up” English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/triage
unaccounted for	Not accounted-for. Not known. The location and condition of a person or object is unknown. People who are unaccounted for during an emergency or disaster may be alive or dead, and their location and condition is unknown. See also accounted for. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/unaccounted-for
unscathed	Not harmed or damaged in any way; untouched. English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/unscathed
victim, victims	An unfortunate person who suffers from a disaster or other adverse circumstance. Simple English Links: http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/victim English Links: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/victim

2 responses to “Christchurch Earthquake Vocabulary”

Paul Naidu February 24, 2011 at 2:27 pm | Permalink | Reply

Awesome!! You obviously spent a great deal of time putting this together.
tiam August 4, 2011 at 8:40 am | Permalink | Reply

I really appreciate your effort. I am going to use this for my students and I am sure it will help.