The shaking started at 4:35am on Saturday morning. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake woke most of Canterbury. In town, buildings had tumbled to the ground.

I was so petrified because I didn’t know what was happening. I dashed out of my room and headed for mum and dads room. I got to the door frame with mum. When it had all finished dad got the torch and had a look around. Our house was a mess.

Dad got the car and we went to our cousin’s house in Templeton. I thought it was a nightmare. I don’t really want to be by myself anymore I like being with people I know.

I couldn’t believe I survived a 7.1 earthquake. The after shocks have been freaking me out every time one hits.

When one of the after shocks hit after the earthquake, I hit my head so hard it made a bruise really big but you cant see it anymore.

At our house we had our small T.V broken our big T.V tipped over and mine and my brothers room was extremely messy. Our pool lost water in it and our kitchen looked like a disaster.