Buildings toppled yet again in Christchurch, New Zealand’s quake-prone – and second-largest – city in the wake of a series of powerful earthquakes that threatened to derail recovery efforts set in motion after a deadly February temblor killed 181 people and left portions of the city inhabitable.
The strongest of the quakes – which struck Monday afternoon local time – measured 6.0 on the Richter scale, the Reuters news agency reported, and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told Radio New Zealand that dust had enveloped the city.
Speaking from Auckland, Chabad-Lubavitch of New Zealand Director Rabbi Mendel Goldstein said that he spoke to a number of Christchurch residents who detailed how badly they were affected. The Avon River, which runs through the middle of town, spilled over its banks, sewage lines snapped, and liquefaction set in at several locations across the city.
After the Feb. 22 quake, Goldstein relocated to the country’s North Island once police and civil defense units shut down the area where his center’s severely damaged headquarters stood. Since then, he’s maintained contacts with those still in Christchurch, but has worked to keep travelers away. Thousands of aftershocks have jolted the area so far.
“Ever since the February earthquake, Chabad of New Zealand has urged Israeli backpackers and other Jewish travelers to stay away from the city,” reported Goldstein, who still provides assistance to Christchurch families that turn to Chabad. “Many visitors to the country call us as part of their trip planning, and we advise them that we are not providing any backpackers services in Christchurch aside from those required in an emergency.”
Officials were non-committal on the issue of timelines governing recovery efforts in the stricken city.
“I acknowledge that this is a setback for Christchurch, but it does not lessen our resolve to rebuild,” Prime Minister John Kay told reporters in Wellington.
Goldstein said that his ultimate goal is to rebuild the Chabad House, but defers to New Zealand authorities and city planners as to when that might be possible. He happened to be scheduled to be in the city on Monday – he travels there often to help with the various needs of locals, including most recently flying in a ritual circumciser from Melbourne – but Jetstar Airlines cancelled all flights Sunday and Monday due to a high-altitude ash cloud from the volcano eruption in Chile. Because of this, he was in Auckland when the latest earthquake struck.
“Tens of thousands of locals are now spending the freezing night without running water or electricity,” said the rabbi, who also pointed to the “remarkable” spirit of the local community in looking after one another during an indescribably difficult time. “While a number of residents have moved out of the city since February, some who have stayed behind are now saying they’ve had more than they can handle.”
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