Checks on tourists after Christchurch quake

UK tour operators were anxiously checking on British holidaymakers today following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

There were reports that some hotels in the city had been badly damaged, while Christchurch airport was closed until at least early evening UK time today.

Long–haul specialist holiday company Page & Moy, which includes Christchurch in its New Zealand itineraries, was assessing future trips to the city.

A spokeswoman added: "We don't have any people in Christchurch at the moment, but other tours were planned."

Among airlines serving the UK affected by the Christchurch airport closure were Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.

Britons travelling to New Zealand with Air New Zealand fly to Auckland and can then get a connecting flight to Christchurch.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said today: "Christchurch airport is shut but we plan to start domestic services again from tonight, UK time."

At least 65 people were killed and hundreds more were believed trapped as the rescue mission got underway today.

Prime minister John Key told reporters in the stricken city that the death toll was expected to rise further.

The 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the south island city at lunchtime, midnight British time, collapsing buildings and sending bricks and other heavy debris toppling into busy city streets. Multi–storey buildings collapsed in on themselves, and others collapsed into the streets.

Pavements and roads were cracked and split, and thousands of dazed, screaming and crying residents wandered through the streets as sirens blared. The spire of the stone Christchurch Cathedral toppled into a central city square.

The multi–storey Pyne Gould Guinness Building, housing more than 200 workers, collapsed and an unknown number of people are trapped inside.

Television pictures showed rescuers, many of them office workers, dragging severely injured people from the rubble.

Today's 6.3–magnitude quake struck closer to the town centre than a quake that heavily damaged Christchurch last September but caused no deaths when it struck before dawn on a weekend. This time it was the middle of a busy working day.

The airport was closed, and Christchurch Hospital was briefly evacuated before it was deemed safe and




DO you have relatives or friends in the Christchurch area. Call the Chronicle newsdesk on 633 2121 or email news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk  to keep us up to date on their situation.