New Zealand 2011 Earthquake: Christchurch, New Zealand, earthquake shuts down all flights out of the country
The strong earthquake that has struck Christchurch, New Zealand, has shut down all flights out of the country. That is because New Zealand’s air traffic control operations are based in Christchurch. The air traffic control building was damaged. All international fights have been suspended.
The Christchurch airport is closed until at least 7 p.m. local time and its flights were diverted to the country’s largest city, Auckland and its capital city, Wellington.
Part of the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, was caught on tape. You can see a section of a building crumbling. Click here to view that video.
The Iconic steeple on the Christchurch Cathedral collapsed in the quake.
See slideshow photos here of some of the damage and the earthquake aftermath.
Click here for more raw video from the Associated Press (AP).
The death toll is at 65 and is expected to go higher. The earthquake had a magnitude 6.3. The earthquake struck during lunchtime in Christchurch. Fortunately, it is summertime in New Zealand now, so residents don't have to cope with the cooler winter weather. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key has called the disaster New Zealand's darkest hour.
New Zealand is no stranger to earthquakes but fortunately also has been a leader in earthquake resistant building construction. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington. The city's national museum there features the base-isolating construction which was developed in that country. An exhibit just outside the museum's main entrance shows how the base-isolating technology keeps buildings standing after quakes by allowing the structures to roll with the quakes.
The other major cities of New Zealand, Auckland and Wellington are pitching in and sending emergency personnel to help assist Christchurch residents with the emergency response.
Christchurch is New Zealand's second largest city with a population of 376,000. The population of New Zealand is 4.3 million.
Click here to view the Christchurch Airport's Web site. You can sign up for its Twitter account to be notified when it reopens.
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