Race to rescue trapped quake survivors
Updated 8 minutes ago
Rescuers stop to listen for sounds from survivors. (Getty Images: Martin Hunter)
Screams can be heard from people trapped inside the scores of buildings destroyed by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that has rocked the New Zealand city of Christchurch.
At least 17 deaths have been confirmed and the city's emergency services are being stretched to the limit as they begin a widespread rescue and recovery operation.
Details of the overall devastation remain sketchy, but dozens of buildings have collapsed or been severely damaged, while many roads have buckled and streets are flooded by burst water mains.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck near the city at a shallow depth of just four kilometres shortly before 12:50pm (local time) with the city at its busiest.
Television pictures show bloodied people being helped along city streets by rescuers.
Police said central city was being evacuated, with deaths reported at several locations including two buses crushed by falling buildings and the implosion of a local youth hostel.
Hospitals across the South Island are clearing patients to make room for the injured.
Christchurch Hospital has not been evacuated and is in operation, while three triage centres have been set up in Central City, Sydenham and Papanui.
The city's gas lines are being shut off to prevent further leaks and police are advising those who have evacuated their homes or buildings to report to their closest civil defence sector post.
Reports suggest there are no more ambulances available and that police had taken to evacuating those injured in their squad cars.
A number of buildings in the city centre are ablaze. Helicopters are dumping water on the burning CTV building and emergency crews are trying to pull down walls to access the fire.
Rescue teams are roaming the streets using sniffer dogs to locate survivors and bodies....<cont>
