Christchurch earthquake: Many deaths reported

Prime Minister John Key says his thoughts and prayers are with the families of any people killed in today's massive quake in Canterbury.
Police have said that multiple fatalities have been reported at several locations in the central city, including two buses crushed by falling buildings.
Mr Key said he was awaiting official confirmation of deaths after the 6.3 shallow quake which struck at 12.51pm.
"My heart and thoughts and prayers would go to those families. I think we all knew that we were very lucky and blessed when the first earthquake took place that it didn't claim any lives. If it's the case that people have lost their lives in this earthquake then I think all New Zealanders would mourn with a heavy heart."
Do you know anyone from or formerly from Rotorua affected by today's quake? Email news@dailypost.co.nz or phone 07 348 6199 ext: 57059.
The central city is being evacuated as police receive reports of widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.
"Multiple fatalities have been reported at several locations in the central city, including two buses crushed by falling buildings. A doctor and emergency services are attending," police said.
There have been reports of fires in buildings and persons trapped inside buildings.
The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) is setting up all available urban search and rescue teams -- with an Australian team on call.
The National Crisis Management Centre has been activated.
Temporary accommodation has been organised for those displaced, and they are looking at erecting tents in Hagley Park.
The ministry is working with the Ministry of Social Development and the Police to re-establish contact with Christchurch civil defence.
Christchurch Hospital is in operation, but the airport is closed and other airports have been affected.
The airport is closed until further notice after a severe aftershock at 2.55pm.
Flights around in New Zealand have been disrupted.
Auckland Airport spokesman Richard Llewellyn said the airways system around the country was closed shortly after the earthquake.
"For the moment planes are landing but no planes are departing," he told NZPA.
"The national air traffic control centre is in Christchurch, and they are checking to make sure it is all okay, and until then the airways system has been closed."
Last year's major earthquake was at night-time but today's struck when the city was bustling.
The army is assisting search buildings for people.
Mr Key said damage in the city was substantial, buildings recently repaired had collapsed and there was widespread damage.
There were reports of damaged roads and sewage systems, more liquefaction that causes serious damage.
"Not only is it a significant earthquake that's shallow in nature but it's taken place at a very busy time and off the back of what has not only been one earthquake but the 4000 aftershocks that Canterbury has experienced in the last six months," Mr Key said.
"It's struck at a very vulnerable time for the region."
Mr Key will attempt to fly to Christchurch on an air force plane after an emergency Cabinet meeting at 3pm.
He has spoken to his sister who lives there. She was very shaken and had not been able to contact her husband.
"She said it was worse than the first earthquake... she said there was absolute carnage, there was water everywhere, sewage flowing down the street and the roads were in grid-lock."
Triage centres have been established for people with injuries at Latimer Square in Central City, Spotlight Mall in Sydenham and Sanitarium in Papanui
Civil Defence Minister John Carter said cellphone and landlines were down and Civil Defence was using HP and satellite phones to try to communicate.
"We understand it is a lot shallower than the last one, it's closer than the last one and the effects may be worse."
Telecom said some of its phone networks had been badly damaged in the quake.
It said its staff were working intensively to understand which services have been affected and get them restored as soon as possible.
The spire on the Christ Church Cathedral tumbled in the quake.
Mayor Bob Parker said he was "deeply, deeply concerned about lives".
They had lost a lot of communication, and water was coming up through the streets from pipes, he said.
"Today is simply about a rescue operation, we need to get the extent of the damage clear, we need to get into buildings."
Mr Parker said people were very frightened but they needed to keep the roads clear.
"Our roads are now our lifeline.
"Don't use the phones unless you have to, thos phones are also our lifeline."
A man says he and 19 other colleagues are trapped in Christchurch's Forsyth Barr building on Colombo Street.
Gary Moore told NZPA workers were stuck on the 12th floor as the stairwell had collapsed. He was not sure if people were trapped on other floors.
People were in a state of shock but were not injured and he urged NZPA to let somebody know.
He described the first quake and the aftershocks as catastrophic.
"We watched the cathedral collapse out our window while we were holding onto the walls."
"Every aftershock sends us rushing under the desks. It's very unnerving but we can clearly see there are other priorities out the window. There has been a lot of damage and I guess people are attending to that before they come and get us," he said.
The Christchurch Police Station was initially evacuated but is operational again.
The quake was widely felt throughout the South Island and there were some reports of lights swaying as far north as Auckland.
A massive 7.1 tremor hit Canterbury on September 4 last year, causing extensive damage and a handful of injuries, but no deaths.
Thousands of aftershocks have since rattled the region.
The September quake caused billions of dollars of damage, with more than 168,000 claims to the Earthquake Commission.