Rescuers search offices for quake survivors in NZ

(Bloomberg): Rescue workers in the New Zealand city of Christchurch combed through collapsed ruins of office buildings Tuesday as they searched for trapped survivors of New Zealand’s deadliest earthquake in eight decades. About 250 search-and-rescue personnel are preparing to dig through wreckage left by yesterday’s magnitude 6.3 quake that killed at least 65 people, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English told reporters yesterday. More than 100 people may be trapped in collapsed structures, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said. “After the initial shock, our focus is now firmly going to be on those people who may be remaining trapped in collapsed buildings,” English said.

Rescuers have extracted people alive from several buildings central city buildings, New Zealand Police said in an e-mailed statement. Some were saved after limbs were amputated, Police Superintendent Russell Gibson told Television New Zealand.

Go to article