HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

February 22, 2011. At least 65 killed in Christchurch earthquake, dozens missing or feared trapped

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

At least 65 people were killed and some 120 people rescued from ruins when a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the South Island's Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, reports indicated on February 22nd. The tremor caused widespread damage as it struck at a shallow depth of five kilometers (3.1 miles), centered some 10km (6.2 miles) southeast of the city, and came at 12:51 local time (23:51GMT on February 21st) when the city was at its busiest. Up to 30 people remained trapped inside a Christchurch ruin, while a dozen visiting Japanese nationals were reported missing. The earthquake knocked out power and telephone lines and damaged pipes, leading to street flooding. The suburbs of Lyttelton and New Brighton suffered significant damages. The government mobilized the army and firefighting helicopters to assist in rescue and fire control operations. Australia, meanwhile, offered specialists to assist its neighbor. The earthquake was the worst natural disaster for the city since 1931, when an earthquake in Napier killed 256 people.