SYDNEY - At least sixty-five people died and dozens were wounded or went missing after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, destroying buildings in the center and entire suburbs. "We are witnessing the darkest days of New Zealand," said Prime Minister John Key to confirm the death toll.
An unknown number of people killed aboard two buses crushed by rubble. And according to Mayor Bob Parker, between 150 and 200 are trapped in collapsed buildings. WATCH THE VIDEO - PHOTOS The main shock took place at 12:51 (00:51 in Italy), and at rush hour. It 'lasted about a minute and was followed by two replicas, with a magnitude of 5.6 and 5.5.
The earthquake was more destructive than that of 7.1 degrees occurred on September 4 last year (video 1-2) because there is only four kilometers deep. Eyewitnesses described the scene as "horrible" pictures and TV shows have cars buried under the rubble. Many historic buildings, including the Anglican cathedral, the heart of Christchurch, are reduced to rubble and the streets are invasee water that spills from broken pipelines.
Interrupted in 80% of the city telephone lines and electrical. The local airport is closed and flights were diverted to the capital Wellington. Hospitals throughout the South Island were designed to accommodate the hundreds of injured, while in some parts of Christchurch are set up field hospitals.
The city has declared a state of emergency by closing access to the city center to allow rescue operations. New Zealand, the island nation placed on the crossing of Indo-Australian tectonic plate and the Pacific, an average of more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, twenty of which reached magnitude 5 or higher. 
An unknown number of people killed aboard two buses crushed by rubble. And according to Mayor Bob Parker, between 150 and 200 are trapped in collapsed buildings. WATCH THE VIDEO - PHOTOS The main shock took place at 12:51 (00:51 in Italy), and at rush hour. It 'lasted about a minute and was followed by two replicas, with a magnitude of 5.6 and 5.5.
The earthquake was more destructive than that of 7.1 degrees occurred on September 4 last year (video 1-2) because there is only four kilometers deep. Eyewitnesses described the scene as "horrible" pictures and TV shows have cars buried under the rubble. Many historic buildings, including the Anglican cathedral, the heart of Christchurch, are reduced to rubble and the streets are invasee water that spills from broken pipelines.
Interrupted in 80% of the city telephone lines and electrical. The local airport is closed and flights were diverted to the capital Wellington. Hospitals throughout the South Island were designed to accommodate the hundreds of injured, while in some parts of Christchurch are set up field hospitals.
The city has declared a state of emergency by closing access to the city center to allow rescue operations. New Zealand, the island nation placed on the crossing of Indo-Australian tectonic plate and the Pacific, an average of more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, twenty of which reached magnitude 5 or higher.
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