65 Known Dead in Christchurch, New Zealand, After Earthquake

Less than 24 hours after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck, residents of Christchurch, New Zealand, are waking to a nightmare. Much of the central business district is in ruins and damage reaches into the suburbs. 65 people are confirmed dead by Civil Defence authorities.

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck at 12:51 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. The quake is described by the U.S. Geological Survey as an aftershock of the Sept. 3, 2010, 7.1 magnitude earthquake. It appears to have caused far more damage to the city of Christchurch than the much larger quake in September. In addition, New Zealand authorities are reporting at least 23 aftershocks from the Feb. 22 earthquake greater than a magnitude 4.

New Zealand has deployed all three of its Urban Search and Rescue teams, although the Christchurch team is not at full strength. The airport is closed to all but emergency flights. Engineers are examining Lyttelton Tunnel for damage and it is closed. Many roads are damaged, and flooding due to water main breaks or liquefaction is common.

The Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand was holding a conference in Christchurch at the time of the earthquake. The hundreds of attendees are reported safe, and news reports indicate that many have offered their assistance during the emergency.

The New Zealand-US Partnership Forum was being held in Christchurch. News reports suggest that the Americans in attendance are safe. Former Dep Sec of State Richard Armitage was among those attending and the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand used Twitter to locate Mr. Armitage after the earthquake disrupted communications. Tim Manning, deputy administrator for protection and national preparedness at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was also in attendance and immediately began assisting in rescue efforts.

Additional assistance for New Zealand is en route from Australia, which has mobilized over 140 trained Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) personnel. A large number of people are believed to still be trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings in the stricken region.

The Tasman Glacier is reported to have shed some 30 million tons of ice during the earthquake. The lake formed by the glacier was rocked by high waves for a half hour.