Damage is seen on a motorway, north of Christchurch September 4, 2010. A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit New Zealand, 30 km (20 miles) west of Christchurch early on Saturday morning, causing no immediate reports of casualties but widespread damage, authorities said. REUTERS/James Ball via Your View (NEW ZEALAND - Tags: DISASTER)
“Rescue crews search for people trapped in New Zealand rubble
Two seriously hurt; two suburbs may be evacuated with water, power, bridges, roads out across Christchurch area “
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38993181/ns/world_news-asiapacific/
“By Alex Johnson and Elizabeth Chuck
Reporters
msnbc.com
updated 1 hour 38 minutes ago
Share Print Font: +-Rescue teams were searching for people trapped in the rubble of a major earthquake that caused extensive damage Saturday in Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city.
Basic sanitation was likely to become a major health concern because numerous sewer and water lines were damaged across the city, Civil Defense officials said. About 1,000 residents of two suburbs were put on alert to evacuate their homes as widespread damage to sewer pipes threatened major flooding.
Two men were seriously injured and scores of other people suffered less serious injuries in the aftermath of the quake, which registered 7.0 on the Richter scale. It struck at 4:35 a.m. (1:35 p.m. Friday ET), the U.S. Geological Survey said in Washington. “
[snip]
The 7.2 that struck on Easter near San Diego did damage like that to roads near Mexicali. Quite a mess.