A massive 6.3 earthquake hit New
Zealand South Island’s largest city of Christchurch for the second time in less
than six months, causing multiple deaths and widespread destruction.

TV grab taken on Feb. 22, 2011 shows a damaged vehicle in Christchurch, New Zealand. A massive 6.3 earthquake hit New Zealand South Island’s largest city of Christchurch for the second time in less than six months, causing multiple deaths and widespread destruction. (Xinhua)

The quake on Tuesday was centered 10
km south-east of the South Island city and struck at 12:51 p.m. (2351 GMT
Monday).

Police have confirmed fatalities at
several locations in the city, including two buses crushed by falling buildings.

Police said other reports include
multiple building collapses, fires in buildings in the central city and persons
reported trapped in buildings.

Several aftershocks struck the city
during the afternoon, with the largest aftershock measured at 5.7 on the Richter
scale, at 1: 04 p.m..

New Zealand National Civil Defence
Controller David Coetzee said the damage is worse than the 7.1-magnitude quake
on Sept. 4 last year.

People have thronged onto the
streets of the city center. There are fresh piles of rubble everywhere.

Residents in Christchurch were being
asked to stay off the roads to allow emergency services to get through.

The quake was centered in the town
of Lyttelton. Fire service said 60 percent of Lyttelton’s buildings in the main
road, London Street, have fallen.

The military is helping with the
search and rescue operation, with the navy vessel HMS Canterbury in port and the
army also helping. Port Lyttelton and the Lyttelton Tunnel are closed.

Christchurch Airport is closed, and
power is out to about 80 percent of Christchurch.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has
declared a local state of emergency.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key
called an emergency Cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet