New Zealand Earthquake

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - One of New Zealand's biggest cities lay in ruins Tuesday after a powerful earthquake toppled tall buildings and churches on a busy weekday, killing at least 65 people in the country's worst natural disaster in decades.

More than 100 people, including as many as a dozen visiting Japanese students, were thought to be trapped in the rubble as darkness - and drizzling rain - fell Tuesday night. Rescue crews with sniffer dogs fanned out across the city in search of survivors, some of whom were able to send text messages or make phone calls from under the wreckage.

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New Zealand Earthquake

In this image made from video run by New Zealand's TV3, an injured person is carried on a street in Christchurch, New Zealand Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the city. (AP Photo/TV3 via Associated Press Television News)

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New Zealand Quake Kills Over 60, Traps Many

New Zealand Earthquake

In this image made from video run by New Zealand's TVNZ, men carry wounded man after pulling him out from rubble in Christchurch, New Zealand Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. A strong, 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch on Tuesday, seriously injuring people and damaging buildings throughout the city. (AP Photo/TVNZ via Associated Press Television News)

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New Zealand Quake Kills Over 60, Traps Many

New Zealand Earthquake

People walk past a church in Christchurch, New Zealand, which was destroyed after an earthquake struck Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. The 6.3-magnitude quake collapsed buildings and is sending rescuers scrambling to help trapped people amid reports of multiple deaths. (AP Photo/NZPA, Pam Johnson)

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New Zealand Quake Kills Over 60, Traps Many

New Zealand Earthquake

A building in Christchurch, New Zealand, is destroyed after an earthquake struck Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. The 6.3-magnitude quake collapsed buildings and is sending rescuers scrambling to help trapped people amid reports of multiple deaths. (AP Photo/NZPA, Pam Johnson)

This gallery appears with:

New Zealand Quake Kills Over 60, Traps Many

New Zealand Earthquake

This gallery appears with:

New Zealand Quake Kills Over 60, Traps Many

New Zealand Earthquake

In this image made from video run by New Zealand's TV3, a woman is carried off a collapsed building in Christchurch, New Zealand Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the city. (AP Photo/TV3 via Associated Press Television News)

This gallery appears with:

New Zealand Quake Kills Over 60, Traps Many

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