Christchurch aftershocks: Uni students face more disruptions to studies

Students evacuated Canterbury University before the second, stronger, tremor hit. Photo / Geoff Sloan

Evacuated students watched in horror as their campus shook, crashed and banged.

Fortunately Canterbury University students and staff were evacuated from the campus following the first 5.5 magnitude quake and gathered on Ilam Field.

While reassured that they were in an open space, students groaned at the prospect of more disruptions to their studies.

First-year student Aaron Pedraza, 18, was outside the library when the 1pm aftershock hit and feared the building could fall on him.

"I just ran to safe ground, it was so scary. I couldn't believe it was happening again," he said.

Mr Pedraza had an exam that morning and another scheduled for today.

"I don't know what I'm going to do, I can't go home and study now.

"I think they are going to need to delay our exams. There's been no facilities and now this. It's not a good time to start studying here."

Engineering student Hayato Auman, 19, had planned on a big day of study for his level one exams, but was forced to evacuate without his notes. He was in the basement of the computer building when he heard a big rumble and the building began to shake violently.

Mr Auman said it had been a tough start to the year because students were expected to cover the same course-work in a tighter timeframe.

When the 6-magnitude aftershock hit, students started screaming as they watched the buildings rock and felt the ground beneath them surge.

Urban Search and Rescue staff rushed to the scene soon after the second quake.

Jessica Dorsch, 22, Catherine Kwan, 19 and Debby Lee, 21, were visibly shaken. They waited anxiously for information after being evacuated from the Ilam apartments.

Miss Kwan said she fell over from the shock. She believed the university was doing the best it could, considering the circumstances.

Miss Lee had five exams and said it would be difficult to concentrate on study.

A group of builders who had been working on earthquake-damaged buildings fled to the nearest pub after the first shake.

They said they had almost completed repairs and strengthening work but would now have to pull up the carpet and inspect for new damage once it was deemed safe to enter.