VOA标准英语2010年-New Zealand Begins Post-Earthquake Cle

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New Zealand's second-biggest city, Christchurch, is facing an enormous clean-up after being struck by the country's worst earthquake in 80 years.  The magnitude 7 quake devastated¹ parts of Christchurch early Saturday.

Christchurch awoke Sunday to another grim day as shell-shocked residents assess the damage inflicted² by one of the country's most powerful earthquakes.

Mayor Bob Parker is urging residents to stay indoors.

This is not a good time to go out, as curious as you may be, and have a look around if it means driving out onto the streets because we need to keep them free for emergency services," Parker advised. "Use common sense; emergency services are flat out at the moment. The assessment³ is underway. Take sensible precautions, but don't go out sightseeing. Check on your neighbors. Do the things that communities do so well at times like this."

Authorities say it is a miracle no one was killed after disaster struck Saturday before dawn, when most people were still asleep.  A small number of serious injuries have been reported.

Roads and bridges have been left in ruins and troops are expected to be deployed⁴ to help in the emergency effort.  Power and water supplies have also been disrupted.  Authorities say the clean-up will be long and expensive.  The damage bill is estimated at about $1.5 billion.

A night time curfew was imposed in parts of Christchurch, while schools offered emergency shelter to those left homeless.

A series of aftershocks have unnerved a wary⁵ population.

New Zealand sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast area of unpredictable seismic⁶ activity.  The South pacific country of more than 4 million people experiences more than 14,000 earthquakes each year.  Most are minor⁷ but occasionally nature displays its destructive power.

This weekend's earthquake is among the 10 strongest the country has ever recorded.