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Quake devastates New Zealand

— PHOTO: AFP

structural damage: The wrecked facade of the Westende Jewellers and rubble blocking a street in Christchurch on Saturday.

Christchurch (New Zealand): New Zealand's most destructive earthquake in nearly 80 years caused $2 billion worth damage on Saturday, felling buildings, tearing up roads and sending terrified residents fleeing into the streets.

Officials said it was “extremely lucky” no one was killed when the 7.0 magnitude quake shook the island nation's second-largest city of Christchurch just before dawn. Frightened residents fled their homes to find streets covered in rubble and glass, but despite the extent of the damage only two people were seriously injured in the city of 340,000 people.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said he was “horrified by the amount of damage” which daylight showed was considerably worse than first thought.

“There would not be a house, there would not be a family in our city that has not in some way have damage done to their person, to their property,” said Mr. Parker on national radio. “I think it's like an iceberg; there is... below the visible line, significant structural damage.”

Few people were on the streets as the quake hit but building facades crashed to the ground, crushing parked cars and showering the roads with shattered glass, while gas and water electricity supplies were cut.

A state of emergency was declared in Christchurch and a 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew imposed in the city centre.

Residents were warned to stay away from damaged buildings for fear of further collapses as severe aftershocks continued to rock the city. “I think we've been extremely lucky as a nation that there's been no fatalities... we're blessed actually,” said Civil Defence Minister John Carter after being briefed on the impact of the quake he described as a “significant disaster”.

The quake, initially recorded at a magnitude of 7.4, struck at a depth of five km some 45 km west of Christchurch, said the US Geological Survey.

“Oh my God. There is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me,” resident Colleen Simpson told the Stuff website, adding that many people had run out onto the streets in fear. — AFP

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