Demolition for quake-hit cathedral
NEW Zealand's Anglican church is to demolish a 131-year-old cathedral in earthquake-devastated Christchurch because it is too dangerous and expensive to rebuild, the city's bishop said yesterday.
The Victorian-era, Gothic-style cathedral, which dominated the city's central square, was badly damaged in the February 2011 quake. The 6.3 magnitude quake killed 185 people and destroyed large areas of the business center and 6,000 homes.
The cathedral was a favorite meeting place and tourist attraction, but any chance of saving it was ended by aftershocks that caused more damage.
"The decision we have made has been made with prayer, with great deliberation, and an utmost concern for safety," Bishop Victoria Matthews said.
She said the cathedral would be demolished carefully to a height of two or three metres to salvage historic features.
"There will be no bulldozers, or wrecking balls, this will be done with deep love and respect for a building that has served us so well," Matthews said.
New Zealand faces a NZ$20 billion (US$16.5 billion) bill to rebuild its second largest city, the centre of which remains off limits a year after the quake.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker described the demolition decision as "heartbreaking."
The Victorian-era, Gothic-style cathedral, which dominated the city's central square, was badly damaged in the February 2011 quake. The 6.3 magnitude quake killed 185 people and destroyed large areas of the business center and 6,000 homes.
The cathedral was a favorite meeting place and tourist attraction, but any chance of saving it was ended by aftershocks that caused more damage.
"The decision we have made has been made with prayer, with great deliberation, and an utmost concern for safety," Bishop Victoria Matthews said.
She said the cathedral would be demolished carefully to a height of two or three metres to salvage historic features.
"There will be no bulldozers, or wrecking balls, this will be done with deep love and respect for a building that has served us so well," Matthews said.
New Zealand faces a NZ$20 billion (US$16.5 billion) bill to rebuild its second largest city, the centre of which remains off limits a year after the quake.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker described the demolition decision as "heartbreaking."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔$粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.