New Zealand paused for two minutes to remember more than 150 people killed when the city of Christchurch was struck a week ago by the nation's deadliest earthquake in 80 years.
Prime Minister John Key asked the country to observe the silence at 12.51pm. local time, the moment a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the city on February 22nd. The death toll has reached 155 and is expected to rise further, according to New Zealand police.
More than 240 people are missing, which may include all of the confirmed fatalities, the statement said.
The earthquake was the second to hit Christchurch within six months after a 7.0-magnitude quake struck on September 4th.
Repairs to the city may cost as much as 20 billion NZ dollars (€10 billion) after both disasters, Mr Key told reporters yesterday.
On Lambton Quay, the main shopping street in Wellington's central business district, activity ground to a halt for the two minute's silence. Hundreds of business workers gathered outside nearby office buildings in the nation's capital city, and lunchtime shoppers walked out of stores to join them, standing and reflecting in silence.
About 755 buildings in the city centre, or about a quarter of the total, have been condemned, according to the Christchurch City Council website. Rebuilding could take five to 10 years, the New Zealand Herald
reported yesterday, citing an interview with Mr Key.
More than 900 search and rescue personnel from 12 countries are combing through the rubble of Christchurch's office and heritage buildings. The names of eight victims have so far been released. All are local residents and range in age from five months to 46 years, according to police.
Bloomberg