The official death toll has risen to 113 with more than 220 people still missing on day four of the major earthquake disaster in Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island.
No further survivors have been found for more than 40 hours, and cold wet weather has set in, dampening the spirits of rescue teams. Five bodies were recovered overnight from the city center, and the identification process has been slow at the temporary morgue in the city.
The last live rescue was Wednesday, afternoon, about 3 p.m., local time, Civil Defense Minister John Carter told reporters on Friday morning. “We are still hopeful of course that there still may be people rescued but it’s getting and less likely.”
There are three key sites where Urban Search and Rescue teams are operating, according to New Zealand police, and an American team has now arrived to join teams from New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. A team from the United Kingdom is on its way and will bring the total number of rescue workers to almost 700 when it arrives.
The recovery teams are checking central buildings using grid searches, and also investigating alleyways where office workers may have been trapped while out for lunch. Rescuers believe there may be many people buried under the rubble, Carter said.
Officials say there is no need to stockpile supplies as the city is not running out of food or fuel, the Australian Associated Press reported. Bottled water is still in use, but water connections are now more than 50 percent reconnected.
John Hamilton, chief of Civil Defense, said the urban search and rescue operation was ongoing, according to AAP, and getting resources to city residents is being prioritized by authorities.
Andrew Murphy from QuakeEscape.org.nz said the response to his new site dedicated to helping Christchurch quake victims has been “fantastic” with accommodation offers coming in from all across New Zealand, and even from Australia, Argentina and the United States.
“We’ve had around 3,500 offers of temporary accommodation made, totaling over 13,000 beds,” Murphy told the Epoch Times via email.
“It’s great to see that hundreds of families in need have been matched up with offers. All in all it’s just an overwhelming response, and it’s awesome to see so many people ready to help out.
No further survivors have been found for more than 40 hours, and cold wet weather has set in, dampening the spirits of rescue teams. Five bodies were recovered overnight from the city center, and the identification process has been slow at the temporary morgue in the city.
The last live rescue was Wednesday, afternoon, about 3 p.m., local time, Civil Defense Minister John Carter told reporters on Friday morning. “We are still hopeful of course that there still may be people rescued but it’s getting and less likely.”
There are three key sites where Urban Search and Rescue teams are operating, according to New Zealand police, and an American team has now arrived to join teams from New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. A team from the United Kingdom is on its way and will bring the total number of rescue workers to almost 700 when it arrives.
The recovery teams are checking central buildings using grid searches, and also investigating alleyways where office workers may have been trapped while out for lunch. Rescuers believe there may be many people buried under the rubble, Carter said.
Officials say there is no need to stockpile supplies as the city is not running out of food or fuel, the Australian Associated Press reported. Bottled water is still in use, but water connections are now more than 50 percent reconnected.
John Hamilton, chief of Civil Defense, said the urban search and rescue operation was ongoing, according to AAP, and getting resources to city residents is being prioritized by authorities.
Andrew Murphy from QuakeEscape.org.nz said the response to his new site dedicated to helping Christchurch quake victims has been “fantastic” with accommodation offers coming in from all across New Zealand, and even from Australia, Argentina and the United States.
“We’ve had around 3,500 offers of temporary accommodation made, totaling over 13,000 beds,” Murphy told the Epoch Times via email.
“It’s great to see that hundreds of families in need have been matched up with offers. All in all it’s just an overwhelming response, and it’s awesome to see so many people ready to help out.
