I have never travelled to New Zealand, but my wife has, and she finds the scenes of the devastation of the fair city of Christchurch too hard to bear. One can barely think how deeply sorrowful Christchurchians are at the moment, especially as news reports seem to indicate that up to a third of buildings will be demolished in the rebuilding project. IF there is to be a rebuilding. Some are saying that this latest quake spells the end for the city, that rebuilding will not only be impossible, but also that the risk of continued habitation in that region are too dangerous.
So please pray, pray and pray for the people of Christchurch.
Just as evidence of the destruction, Reuters FaithWorld blog had this “before and after” report recently:
Christchurch’s damaged cathedrals, photos before & after NZ earthquake
In addition to all the death and destruction we’ve been reporting in our news reports (see the latest here), the earthquake on Tuesday in Christchurch, New Zealand has caused significant damage to the city’s two cathedrals, especially to their trademark spires.
Here are pictures by Reuters photographer Simon Baker of the damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (Roman Catholic) and Christchurch Cathedral (Anglican), with pre-quake pictures below them.
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament:
(Rubble outside the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch February 24, 2011/Simon Baker)
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(A closer look at the Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch, showing where steeple fell, February 24, 2011/Simon Baker )Here is the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament before the quake:
(Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 5th June 2005/Greg O’Beirne)
More pictures of the destruction on the Catholic blog Transalpine Redemptorists at home.
Christchurch Cathedral:
(The Anglican Christchurch Cathedral is seen in central Christchurch next to a rugby World Cup poster February 24, 2011/Simon Baker )
Here is Christchurch Cathedral before the quake:
(Christchurch Cathedral, 5 February 2008/Lover of Romance)
