According to the BBC, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit New Zealand's second city Christchurch around lunchtime New Zealand time (mid-morning UK time).Current reports suggest a death toll around 65 although it's expected that will rise drastically as there are many buildings completely collapsed including the Pyne Gould Guinness building where 30 people are unaccounted for.Some phone networks are still working and various people are known to be alive in trapped buildings although the power is completely out in many areas and there are serious fires ablaze presumably due to burst gas pipes.As one witness put it - "the area outside the cathedral was like a warzone". The spire of the cathedral has collapsed into the square although there are no reports currently of injuries caused by that. Some cars and a bus were however hit by the falling debris.The suburbs of Lyttelton and New Brighton are reportedly "unliveable" with rubble everywhere and most buildings collapsed.

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New Zealand & the Pacific Travel Forum
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