新西兰城市地震至少65人丧生

A massive earthquake has devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch, toppling tall office buildings at the height of the workday and killing at least 65 people.

Fire and rescue crews said their resources were overwhelmed as they struggled to help the injured and reach more than 100 others believed to be trapped in the rubble. Helicopters were used to fight fires and rescue workers from the roofs of high-rise office towers as an evening drizzle complicated rescue efforts.

Prime Minister John Key, who rushed to the city from the capital, Wellington, said the death toll was liable to rise. He said, "We may be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day."

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake was the second in five months for the city, which came through a 7.1-magnitude quake in September without loss of life. But seismologists said this one struck closer to the city and much closer to the surface, making it far more intense.

新西兰克赖斯特彻奇市发生强烈地震，造成严重破坏，一些高层办公楼在人们上班时倒塌，导致至少65人死亡。

消防和救援人员说，他们在艰难的营救受伤的人以及据信被困在瓦砾下面的100多人，但是他们的资源不够。当局出动直升机灭火，并且把在高层办公楼屋顶上的工人营救下来。晚上下的一场小雨使营救努力变得更加复杂。

从首都惠灵顿赶到克赖斯特彻奇的新西兰总理约翰.基说，死亡人数可能会增加。他说，“我们可能在见证新西兰最悲惨的一天。”

这场里氏6.3级的地震是克赖斯特彻奇5个月来发生的第2次地震。去年9月，克赖斯特彻奇发生了一次7.1级的地震，没有人员伤亡。但地震专家说，这次地震距离克赖斯特彻奇市更近，而且震中更接近地表，因此强度更大。