Quake kills at least 65 in New Zealand
February 22, 2011
A devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the
The earthquake, the second to hit the city since September, struck at
Local television showed bodies being pulled out of rubble; it was unclear whether any of them were alive. Footage showed bricks and shattered concrete from buildings strewn in the streets. Sidewalks and roads were cracked and split; dazed and crying residents, their faces bloodied, wandered the streets as sirens blared, some of them scurrying as parts of damaged buildings continued to fall.
Some cars were buried under rubble, and rescuers threw chunks of concrete aside to reached survivors.
For a time, large parts of the city were without electrical power or telephone services. Authorities ordered major hospitals nationwide to make room for victims.
The Christchurch Press newspaper reported that the initial quake was followed by constant aftershocks, some as powerful as magnitude-5.
Prime Minister
“”To be honest, it’s pretty grim,”” said
The earthquake’s epicenter was reportedly 3 miles below ground about 12 miles southeast of
Stuart said unconfirmed reports put the death toll at more than 90, with estimates that it could reach as many as 1,000.
“”The people of
A release posted on the website of the
The release listed several buildings that had collapsed, fires in other downtown structures as well as numerous victims trapped in the rubble.
“”There were screams from trapped people and others digging with their hands to free trapped people,”” Stuart said. “”I talked by phone with one woman who pulled her bed mattress on top of her. There are lots of old stone buildings in
Before rushing to the scene, Key told
“”The worrying fear, of course, is that this earthquake has taken place at a time when people were going about their business — it is a very populated time, with people at work, children at school,”” he told parliament “”But we are aware of significant damage to buildings that had people in them at the time.””
“”It was evident straight away that a lot of buildings had gone,”” he said.