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NZ quake city prays for miracles, toll 146
Source: Agencies |
February 27, 2011, Sunday
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Rescuers pulled apart levelled buildings in New Zealand's quake-hit city of Christchurch today as the death toll climbed to 146 and people gathered to pray that survivors will be found six days after the devastating tremor.
Rescue teams from New Zealand and seven countries, including the United States, China, Japan, and Australia, have been scouring ruined buildings in the central city and suburban areas hardest hit by Tuesday's 6.3 tremor -- but found only the dead.
"They can see bodies that they are trying to get out," police shift commander Russell Gibson said.
The dead include people from 20 nations, including dozens of students from Japan, China who were in Christchurch, one of New Zealand's most attractive cities, to learn English in view of the country's dramatic southern Alps.
The city's mayor clung to the hope that more would be found alive, even as aftershocks brought down masonry and sent rescue teams scrambling for safety.
"I will not stop hoping that we will find people alive in the damaged structures of our city until I am told by the police and the urban search and rescue teams that no such optimism can exist any longer," Bob Parker told reporters.
No survivors have been rescued since mid-afternoon on Wednesday. The number of missing remains at more than 200, but police have said it is likely that the number includes recovered bodies that have yet to be identified.
Prime Minister John Key has called for a two-minute national silence on March 1 as a sign of unity for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, and to grieve for people killed in the country's worst natural disaster for 80 years.
"For now we must do all we can to show its people that all of New Zealand grieves with them," said Key.
Rescue teams from New Zealand and seven countries, including the United States, China, Japan, and Australia, have been scouring ruined buildings in the central city and suburban areas hardest hit by Tuesday's 6.3 tremor -- but found only the dead.
"They can see bodies that they are trying to get out," police shift commander Russell Gibson said.
The dead include people from 20 nations, including dozens of students from Japan, China who were in Christchurch, one of New Zealand's most attractive cities, to learn English in view of the country's dramatic southern Alps.
The city's mayor clung to the hope that more would be found alive, even as aftershocks brought down masonry and sent rescue teams scrambling for safety.
"I will not stop hoping that we will find people alive in the damaged structures of our city until I am told by the police and the urban search and rescue teams that no such optimism can exist any longer," Bob Parker told reporters.
No survivors have been rescued since mid-afternoon on Wednesday. The number of missing remains at more than 200, but police have said it is likely that the number includes recovered bodies that have yet to be identified.
Prime Minister John Key has called for a two-minute national silence on March 1 as a sign of unity for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, and to grieve for people killed in the country's worst natural disaster for 80 years.
"For now we must do all we can to show its people that all of New Zealand grieves with them," said Key.
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