Quake in New Zealand kills at least 65, traps more

[Nica_In_Love 98]

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – One of New Zealand's biggest cities lay in ruins Tuesday after a powerful earthquake toppled tall buildings and churches on a busy weekday, killing at least 65 people in the country's worst natural disaster in decades.

The quake even shook a massive chunk of ice from New Zealand's biggest glacier, some 120 miles to the east of Christchurch, where most of the damage was reported.

More than 100 people, including as many as a dozen visiting Japanese students, were thought to be trapped in the rubble as darkness — and drizzling rain — fell Tuesday night. Rescue crews with sniffer dogs fanned out across the city in search of survivors, some of whom were able to send text messages or make phone calls from under the wreckage.

It was the second major quake to hit Christchurch, a city of 350,000, in five months, though Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude temblor caused far more destruction than a stronger September quake that struck before dawn on a weekend.

"It is just a scene of utter devastation," Prime Minister John Key said after rushing to the city within hours of the quake. He said the death toll was 65, and may rise. "We may well be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day."

The spire of the city's well-known stone cathedral toppled into a central square, while multistory buildings collapsed in on themselves and streets were strewn with bricks and shattered concrete.

Sidewalks and roads were cracked and split, while thousands of dazed, screaming and crying residents wandered through the streets as sirens and car alarms blared. Ambulance services were quickly overwhelmed, and some victims clutching bleedings wounds were carried to private vehicles in makeshift stretchers fashioned from rugs or bits of debris.

Nathanael Boehm, a web designer, said he was standing near a tram track when the quake struck just before 1 p.m., sending the eaves of buildings cascading onto the street below.

More at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110222/ap_on_re_as/as_new_zealand_earthquake

[CareBear 18]

Family and friends have now been located safe and well but absolutely gutted at the devastation

[Nica_In_Love 98]

I actually have a friend that recently moved to New Zealand, I talked to her and thank God she's alright.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I have an online friend who works at the hospital in Christchurch that was evacuated. No one has heard from her yet but we are hoping she and her family are alright.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

And just heard a little while ago from my online friend in Christchurch - she and her family are all fine, although their house is badly damaged. Everyone is safe.

Edited February 24, 2011 by Kathryn41

[Nica_In_Love 98]

And just heard a little while ago from my online friend in Christchurch - she and her family are all fine, although their house is badly damaged. Everyone is safe.

Sorry for the late response. Thank God your friend is safe!