|
|
Buncrana woman escapes NZ
earthquake
24.02.11
A BUNCRANA woman has
expressed relief that her sister, Emer Roberts (née
Keany), emerged from the New Zealand earthquake
unscathed. Emer’s three children, Oisin, Derbhile
and Eoghain, also escaped injury.
Mura Keany and her family were unable to get in
touch with their sister, who has lived in
Christchurch since 1995, for more that 24 hours
after Tuesday’s earthquake and feared the worst.
The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday
confirmed that one Irish citizen was amongst those
killed in the quake. The New Zealand authorities
estimate the death toll at 75 with more than 300
missing.
“We only got to speak to her yesterday morning
(Wednesday) and we were panicking all day Tuesday
when we couldn’t get in touch with her,” said Mura.
“She had been able to call us and put a message on
Facebook within a couple of hours of the September
earthquake, but when we called her on Tuesday the
phone just rang out. It got worse as every hour
passed.”
“My niece, who’s from Jersey, works in Christchurch
too and she had been able to contact home and that
made us even more concerned,” Keany continued. “She
had been texting Emer but was getting no response
and we were deeply worried.”
Mura and other family members finally got in touch
with Emer, who works as a nurse in Christchurch,
just after 7am on Wednesday morning. |
 |
|
Buncrana-born Emer Roberts (nee Keany)
and her children who luckily escaped the devastating
New Zealand earthquake. |
“It was a massive
relief to hear from her,” Mura said. “I could tell
by her voice she was badly shaken. She had been
cooking when the quake struck and it was so sudden
and so violent and the floor shaking so much that
she couldn’t get under the kitchen table.”
“Structurally, her house is OK, but there has been a
lot of damage throughout the city. They have no
electricity, running water or toilet facilities at
the moment.”
“It was very distressing, particularly for the
children,” Mura continued. “Emer told me that she
and the children slept together on the living room
floor last night, but there were strong aftershocks
all night long.
“She had an earthquake survival kit, with water and
food and torches, that she made up after last
September’s quake, but when she went out yesterday
to get more water she said that there were craters
in the roads and devastation everywhere.
“But we were just so relieved to hear that her and
the kids were safe.” (Inishowen
Independent) |
|
