New Zealand earth quakes

In February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand leaving 65 people dead and 100 missing. The earthquake hit the city of Christchurch. The earthquake destroyed a lot of buildings, buried vehicles to the ground, sent debris falling down and trapping people in the rubble. This all happened in a weekday afternoon where everybody is busy. To make sure than no more casualties will happen, the city mayor, Bob Parker declared a state of emergency and made the people evacuate the center of the city should and aftershock happen. He also said that it was a very black day for every body. The prime minister of New Zealand, John Key, also said it was the darkest day of New Zealand and the scene is just very devastating.

Destruction

The power and the water supply was cut down as people run about dazed and confused on what to do next. People were all panicking, screaming and crying in the streets while dark clouds of ashes was covering the sky and the sirens blared from the ambulance and the police cars. There was also an aftermath that was centered just three miles from the city of Christchurch. According to the US Geological Survey, the tremor happened at 2.5 miles depth. The stone cathedral spire went down during the quake. The stone cathedral is one of the landmarks of the city. There were also a lot of buildings that collapsed during the earthquake. The Pyne Gould Guinness Building, a multi-storey building with 200 workers, collapsed during the earthquake. There were unknown number of people who are still trapped inside the ruins. There were scenes in the news were rescue workers pulled out a number of people from the ruins of the building. There were also buses that were crushed by the falling debris. There were a lot of rescue workers who were trying to save as many people as possible from the ruins of the buildings that fell. There were people who were trapped in the Forsyth Barr office building by the cathedral. The people were trapped in the 17th floor of the building. The 19 storey building did not fall down, but one of its stairwell collapsed.

Injuries

The Christchurch hospital tended so many injured people right after the earthquake. According to the Canterbury health board chief executive, there were so many people at the emergency department and most of them had major injuries. The injuries that these people got from the earthquake were cuts and crushes. Some of the severely injured people were rushed to neighboring cities whose hospitals are prepared to take in patients coming from Christchurch. Army medical staffs were also there to help the injured.