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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

New Zealand : Earthquake (News updates)

The following are the latest news updates worldwide with regards to the New Zealand earthquake and also New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence has its Update no. 14 as 0455 hrs local time.

News excerpts :

UK sends rescue team to New Zealand quake zone

Britain has dispatched a search and rescue mission to New Zealand, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday, to help find survivors of a powerful earthquake that has killed at least 65 people in the second city of Christchurch.

Voicing his "deepest sympathies and condolences" to New Zealand, Cameron said the UK "stood ready" to provide further help at this "dark and difficult time".

"There are many people in Britain with ties of friendship or family to New Zealand," said Cameron, speaking to British journalists travelling with him in Kuwait.

New Zealand earthquake: Rescuers work through night

Rescuers are toiling overnight in New Zealand to reach scores of trapped people after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake which has claimed at least 65 lives.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says more than 100 people are feared buried in collapsed buildings in the city.

The disaster struck at a shallow depth of 5km (3.1 miles) on Tuesday lunchtime when Christchurch was at its busiest.

Window of three days for rescue: NZ chief

New Zealand's emergency management chief says rescue teams have a window of opportunity of only two or three days to recover people trapped by the devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch.

John Hamilton, who is coordinating the rescue effort, says people remain in city buildings not yet completely searched.

"We're expecting casualty numbers to be extremely high," he told the ABC's Lateline program on Tuesday.

"It'll take probably until midday tomorrow to get a better feel for exactly what the missing and casualty rate truly is."

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