New Zealand quake claims 75, hundreds missing

Christchurch : The toll has gone up to 75 as rescuers believe nearly 300 to 400 people are trapped in the 6.3 magnitude earthequake that rocked New Zealand’s southern city of Christchurch on Tuesday.

City Mayor Bob Parker was quoted as saying that up to 55 identified bodies were brought at a makeshift morgue of an army base and another 20 corps had been unearthed at the site of devastation.

Parker said the searchers have been removing debris to find out if there were any survivors among an estimated 300 missing people.

Christchurch is New Zealand’s second-biggest city with about 370,000 people.

Rains hampered the search operation as the rescuers evacuated nearly 150 people from the flattened buildings using powerful improvised floodlights.

Prime Minister John Key described the incident as one of its darkest days in the country.

He held an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday and vowed all possible help to the affected people.

He also thanked the world community for help at this hour of crisis in New Zealand.

The earthquake happened on Tuesday at about 12.51 pm. when all buildings, particularly the offices and streets were full of people.