World
        

Society

Christchurch earthquake kills at least 65

Updated: 2011-02-22 14:13

(Agencies)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

Christchurch earthquake kills at least 65
A woman is rescued from inside the Pyne Gould Corporation building after an earthquake in Christchurch Feb 22, 2011. A strong quake hit New Zealand's second-biggest city of Christchurch on Tuesday for the second time in five months. [Photo/Agencies] 


CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - A powerful earthquake slammed New Zealand's already-bruised city of Christchurch on Tuesday, killing at least 65 people, and sending rescuers scrambling to help people trapped under collapsed buildings.

Related readings:
Christchurch earthquake kills at least 65Deadly quake hits New Zealand 
Christchurch earthquake kills at least 656.3 magnitude quake hits New Zealand's Christchurch 
Christchurch earthquake kills at least 65Damaged quake relief buildings to be rebuilt 
Christchurch earthquake kills at least 655.3 magnitude quake rocks northern Philippines 

The 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the country's second-largest city around lunchtime, collapsing buildings and sending bricks and other heavy debris toppling into busy city streets. It was the second major quake to strike Christchurch in the past five months.

Prime Minister John Key told reporters that the death toll was at least 65, and was expected to rise further.

Video footage showed some multi-storey buildings collapsed in on themselves, and others with walls that had collapsed into the streets, strewn with bricks and shattered concrete. Sidewalks and roads were cracked and split, and thousands of dazed, screaming and crying residents wandered through the streets as sirens blared. Groups of people helped victims clutching bleedings wounds, and others were carried to private vehicles in makeshift stretchers fashioned from rugs or bits of debris.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker declared a state of emergency and ordered people to evacuate the city center. Troops were deployed to help people get out and to throw up a security cordon around the stricken area, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said.

   Previous Page 1 2 Next Page  

E-paper

Online shops boom in China

Low investment, quick returns offer profit-making opportunities for struggling students.

Something 'fishy' about this trick
Banking on success
Branded outlets move in

European Edition

Specials

The green lantern

Environmental concerns are shedding new light on a colorful tradition

Inland interchange

Chongqing bets on its position as a hub for China's west.

Zooming in on Chinese skies

Helicopter companies ride on country's growing interest in luxury aviation.

Adventures of Pierre
Top 10 of 2010
China Daily in Europe