CHRISTCHURCH – A series of aftershocks rattled New Zealand’s quake-devastated city of Christchurch again yesterday.
Bricks came crashing down in the cordoned-off city centre, which has been accessible only to building workers since it was devastated in February’s major earthquake.
About 200 people were there when the quakes struck – two were briefly trapped in a church. In all, 10 people were injured in the city.
“This has been a setback for Christchurch and its people, but it does not lessen our resolve to rebuild,” said prime minister John Key.
“The people of Christchurch should know all New Zealanders are thinking of them and will continue to support and stand by them in this very difficult time.”
Across the city, people fled buildings in panic when the 5.2-magnitude quake struck during lunchtime; just over an hour later, a 6.0-magnitude quake was recorded, according to the US Geological Survey. In the centre city and nearby suburbs, several buildings were damaged.
“We are being enveloped with dust,” said Christchurch mayor Bob Parker. “It is very, very scary.”
The city has been shaken by thousands of aftershocks since a 6.3-magnitude quake killed 181 people on February 22nd. Like that tremor, yesterday’s two biggest quakes were very shallow, both around six miles deep.
The shallow depth of the February quake and its proximity to the city helped magnify its destructive force.
About 47,000 homes in the city’s eastern suburbs were left without power after the latest aftershocks when temperatures were expected to approach freezing.
Rocks tumbled down hills in the area, which was among the hardest hit in February, and silt bubbled up from the earth – a process known as liquefaction that sometimes happens during a quake.
After the February quake, 300,000 tonnes of silt had to be scraped away. – (AP)