New Zealand quake kills at least 65 people

 

Photograph: Mark Mitchell/AP

Earthquake topples Christchurch Cathedral's spire, one of many collapsed buildings across New Zealand's second largest city.

In the comments section some people describe how they felt the quake.

- Im in Wellington and felt it at my desk. A colleague of mine was on a day work trip, though she is safe as are friends I have there and the friends and families of others I know. Of course others again have not been so lucky. The news coverage is just so surreal looking at the damage, especially to a landmark building like the cathedral. September's quake was bad enough and it was a miracle there wasnt loss of life. This second blow is scarcely believable.

- It's been so surreal - spread by text news here in Auckland what had happened. In the space of about 10 minutes it went from one confirmed death, to 17, to 64, and now 65. Biggest disaster in living memory - unconfirmed report just announced that deathtoll is now at 2-400. The newsreaders are having such difficulties presenting the news without their voices shaking, and eyewitnesses, even now, 9 hours on, are shaking and traumatised. Wish that I lived closer so I could give a hand, or lend my place to stay at, or anything. Theres just so much rubble everywhere, and dust and distress. And new aftershocks every hour of a high magnitude. It's just surreal.