The head of the Christchurch cathedral thinks people visiting the church may have been killed there when the quake hit this afternoon. The Dean of Christchurch, Peter Beck, says they rushed to get as many people out of the Cathedral as they could.
Dean of Christchurch Cathedral Peter Beck talks about what the people of Christchurch are going through in the aftermath of the earthquake.
The Christchurch Cathedral has suffered massive damage, with its spire reduced to rubble and the roof caved in. There were visitors inside the building when the earthquake hit, and it is still unclear whether anyone was trapped beneath the rubble.
One of the most potent symbols of the earthquake has been the massive amount of destruction caused to Christchurch's Anglican Cathedral, including the toppling of its spire.
The Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral says he's stepping down so he can better serve the city during the earthquake recovery.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake damage in central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake. Peter Beck, Dean of Christchurch Cathedral, beside the damaged Cathedral".
A video of a press conference with Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews and Dean Peter Beck, about the interim plans for the earthquake-damaged ChristChurch Cathedral. In the press conference Matthews announces that the Cathedral will be deconsecrated, that parts of it will be demolished, and that the rest will be made safe. These measures will allow the recovery of artefacts and heritage items from the building.