My thoughts and sympathies go out to Cantabrians

[Fragman]

As the death toll rises from the Littleton and Christchurch areas, my thoughts go out to the friends and families of those affected. I hope you and your nearest and dearest are safe. Take care

[V40]

Ditto on what Fragman has said. This is a very sad situation indeed. My family and I are praying for the people in Christchurch and surrounding areas. My heart definately goes out to the people who passed away in the Earthquake, the people who have lost loved ones, and for those who might be still alive in the rubble.

Anybody here from New Zealand?

[BOUGAINVILLE]

Yes indeed a very sad event. I feel sorry for all those affected and especially for those that have lost loved ones.

I've been to Christchurch a few times in my youth and can just visualise the place. I grew up near the top of the South Island just south of Blenheim and it was always a big adventure the very fews times we went there.

BOUGAINVILLE

[butterfly]

We are so lucky here in the UK, not having to endure the worst of what nature can unleash........thinking of the recent cyclone in Australia and of course the Earthquake in Christchurch.
I too have been lucky enough to visit Christchurch on two seperate occasions - though now well over a decade ago. The Cathedral immediately comes to mind. I was shocked by the devastation and my heart goes out to all those affected by this. Houses can be re-built but lives will be shattered forever by the loss of loved ones. I keep my fingers crossed that more people get pulled out from the rubble.

Kev

[kahu1]

The quake damage is terrible.
For the people affected , the city of Christchurch and New Zealand.
Thankfully NZ has friends who very quickly offered practical assistance that was wisely ,very quickly accepted.
Its times like this that you really do find out who your friends are and they can include some surprising participants.

Bob

[Fragman]

Information is still sketchy and it’s not possible to know who has been affected. Of the 98 people confirmed dead, only 4 names have been released. Whilst there are still 226 people listed as missing, how many have simply fled the city is not known. I know of people who left everything behind and drove from Christchurch to Auckland after the quake.

It is great to have friends in such times of need. Whilst there will be many more countries assisting, I understand that the following foreign assets are already on the ground in Christchurch (or due to arrive).

* A 40-strong Australian urban search and rescue team, along with 300 Australian police.
* A 55-strong disaster relief team from Singapore.
* 75 personnel from a US specialist search and rescue team.
* 60 search and rescue personnel from Japan,
* A 63 strong team of search and rescue personnel from the United Kingdom, and
* Assistance from Taiwan (yet to be finalized)

Soldiers from the Singapore Armed Forces have helped to man the cordons in the city and maintain the curfew.

1000 USAR’s are expected in Christchurch by the weekend.

The city centre was full of historic buildings, not capable of withstanding a shallow earthquake. Whilst most of the dead are in the CBD, there is massive damage to infrastructure and buildings in the suburbs.

It is very sad

[beihan62]

A terrible tragedy indeed,so very sad,one can only hope and pray that there are no more aftershocks to add to the destruction and misery of the good people of Christchurch,our thanks must go out to all the rescue teams,heroes one and all,

Regards and respect,Don,

[falcon5nz]

I live at Woodbourne, not far from Blenhiem. The quake affected us in a different way in that Christchurch is the main distribution for pretty much all the south island supermarkets etc so bread etc was a wee bit hard to find. Its not so bad up here as we aren't far from wellington so they can bring food down from there.