No More Survivors – Rescue Stops, Recovery Continues In Christchurch

By ETHAN Markoff

NEW ZEALAND NEWS – Last Tuesday one of the largest cities in New Zealand and business hub, Christchurch struck by earthquake of magnitude 6.3 and shook the nation with great devastation. After one week, relief officials have declared that there were no more survivors likely to be found and the task left now was recovery. The official toll of causalities is now 161. However, officials say the final estimated toll could be raised to 240.

The city is badly damaged and authorities contemplate that it would take long time to rebuild the whole, though already power, transport and sewage systems are gradually being restored.

The Civil Defence national controller John Hamilton declared to focus on recovery than rescue with a strong heart and put aside sorrow and frustration. He said that they had to face the reality and got rid of false hope as there was no chance that anyone could have survived for this long.

There are two Israeli foreign nationals are found in the bodies and identification of dead bodies has been proceeding slowly. Two Israelis found in the debris are identified as Ofer Levy, 22, and Gabi Moshe Ingel, 23. There are number of foreign students from Japan, China, Thailand and elsewhere are found in rubble but identification are yet to be done.

There are about 90 bodies found so far were pulled from the Canterbury TV building and that helped families to identify their kin. There are three major buildings - the cathedral, the Grand Chancellor hotel and the Pyne Gould Guinness building where large numbers of bodies are believed to be trapped inside the rubble.

"They've now started taking away beams and things from the bell tower, so we are at last going to see some movement in that area," said Superintendent Russell Gibson.

A large number of areas are still out of power and sewage systems that trouble the citizens. The rescuers are also scaled back in Lyttelton, the harbour town near Christchurch in search of recovery.

The historic Timeball Station in Lyttelton has faced significant damage and authorities have put their effort to restore the structure.

Rebuilding costs are put at billions of dollars. It is believed that majority of city’s buildings are demolished.

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March 03, 2011 | 0 comments

New Zealand Suffers The Worst Earthquake Since 1931

By ETHAN Markoff

NEW ZEALAND NEWS – Tuesday’s tremor in New Zealand is the worst natural disaster since 1931 quake in the Hawke's Bay on the North Island, which killed 256 people. Last September the country had witnessed similar earthquake that shook much parts, but analysts say the present tremor is much more energetic event.

The night that shook the city Christchurch devastated buildings, which killed at least 65 people and 100 more feared buried in collapsed edifices. The earthquake was recorded 6.3 magnitude and struck at a shallow depth of 5 km on Tuesday afternoon, the busiest time in Christchurch.

The second time natural disaster in the South Island city’s is believed to be the country’s worst natural disaster in 80 years.

The whole night rescue team with sniffer dogs worked on a cold and wet night to find people under the collapse building and anxious relatives kept vigil outside. The mayor has already declared a state of emergency and ordered immediate evacuations.

The devastation have already stricken city of nearly 400,000 people and there are mass destruction of infrastructure where power and telephone lines out of order and water mains are damaged, deluging the district.

The city’s main cathedral lost its spire and the tall Canterbury TV building was reduced to dust.

A dozen of Japanese students are reported missing and many are still buried under the collapsed building.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said that they paid a hefty price and it was darkest day of the country.

The military has been appointed to help the rescue teams and the government has already accepted helping hands from the neighbor Australia.

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February 22, 2011 | 0 comments