Over 100 People Are Believed Buried In The New Zealand Earthquake

Christchurch, New Zealand, February 22, 2011 — Office workers are evacuated from downtown Christchuch following a devastating earthquake. The death toll, currently 65, is expected to rise. (The childhood friend of one of my friends is among the dead. He was 24.) Mayor Bob Parker says more than 100 people are believed to be buried in rubble. Sewage lines have burst throughout the city and fires are burning. Though, at 6.3 on the Richter scale, eleven times less powerful than the magnitude 7.0 quake that struck last September, this earthquake caused more damage because its epicenter was closer to the city center, and a great deal shallower. There is a video of the moment the quake struck. The best news I’ve found on the earthquake is this liveblog from Channel 4; the New Zealand Red Cross is seeking donations here. Image via Getty.