Earthquake in New Zealand

On 22nd February 2011 an earthqauke with a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter Scale hit Christchurch in New Zealand killing 65 people. 120 people have been rescued from the rubble and the relief efforts are estimated to cost £1.6 billion. The tremor caused mass devastation and hit at a relatively shallow depth of 3.1km below the suface of the earth. New Zealand's Prime Minister described the event as the countries darkest days. Helicopters pulled survivors to safety and extinguished the fires.