

Tuesday, 27 December 2011 12:08
Earthquakes

WELLINGTON (AFP) - Aftershocks continued to rattle the earthquake-shattered New Zealand city of Christchurch on Saturday overshadowing Christmas preparations for weary residents in a 'hellish year'.
The unrelenting series of tremors, several stronger than magnitude 5.0, had the city on edge again 10 months after a devastating quake claimed 181 lives and destroyed much of the inner city.
Emergency services on Saturday were rushing to restore electricity and water supplies and an army of 2,000 volunteers were helping clean up the worst affected suburbs by Christmas Day.
'There is a real determination in our city not to let the events of the past 24 hours ruin Christmas. Our crews have worked overnight and will be working all day to restore services to the city,' Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said.
Source: Straits Times