Quake causes widespread damage:


The earthquake which rocked New Zealand on Saturday morning was felt across the South Island and caused widespread damage, journalists say.

Whole parts of Christchurch were reduced to rubble and one man was seriously injured when a chimney fell on him, following the 7.0 magnitude quake.

Another man was also badly hurt after being cut by glass, Colin Espiner of Christchurch newspaper The Press said.

"The whole room was shaking, things were falling off the shelves, bookcases were falling over, pictures were coming down, glasswear was crashing all around," Mr Espiner told the ABC.

"It was the full-scale earthquake, nothing that I've ever felt like it before.

"When it had got light, because it was pitch dark when the earthquake struck, you could see out on the street there were buildings, particularly old brick buildings which had practically fallen down.

"Whole sections of the older parts of Christchurch had buildings with rubble all over the road.

"Residents are starting to get outside now and have a bit of a look around, it's a bit of a mess."

Mr Espiner said there were reports of people trapped within buildings and potential for flooding, but no reports of fatalities.

He said the power went out immediately.

"There's been reports of damage and the earthquake being felt from Dunedin right up to Wellington," Mr Espiner continued.

"Also on the east coast between the two cities ... felt it quite strongly."

Journalist Tim Downer said the damage had been quite extensive.

"Some people have rung to say their water cylinders have split, the pipes have come away and there's water in their home," he told the ABC.

"Other people are reporting more significant damage than that.

It's terrible.
People have to dig holes in their backyards for toilets.
There is no water for drinking or showers.
Many homes are destroyed.
The roads are impassable.
There is no electricity in many areas.

This is a big disaster.

Yet another tragedy this weekend in NZ.

Fox Glacier plane crash - nine dead
Updated 5:37 PM Saturday Sep 4, 2010 Share234 




Police have confirmed that nine people - a pilot, four locals and four overseas tourists - have been killed in a skydiving plane crash in Fox Glacier this afternoon in New Zealand's worst air crash in seventeen years.