Remembering the Christchurch Quake that Killed 185 people (Dramatic aerial video of the Earthquake)
Today marks the anniversary of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that killed 185 people a year ago. John Key, New Zealand's Prime Minister, together with five other senior ministers will be commemorating the tragic incident at Christchurch today.
The commemoration is intended to reflect on damages brought by the calamity and what the country has achieved since the time of the tragedy. According to the Prime Minister, destructed buildings have been slowly recovered with construction that is near to finish.
Around 26 major industrial buildings are currently worked on. Reconstructions have already covered 80 percent of the overall 1,406 buildings that will be partially or wholly demolished.
A deadly earthquake hit the country on Feb. 22 last year that called help from over 140 disaster assistance experts from Australia. Australian paramedics, task forces, doctors and other well trained personnel came all the way to New Zealand to support rescuers. Firefighter rescue experts also arrived to assist in recovering people from severely damaged buildings.
The searching and rescuing took more than 23 days. Firefighters from NSW were able to recover a person inside Pyne Gould Building, which gave everyone a great experience considering the serious damages of the establishment.
The Christchurch earthquake anniversary celebration will give honor to emergency taskforce members who actively worked on recovering victims during the incident. Plaques of recognition will be awarded at a memorial service that will be conducted in the city, where damages are still obvious.
The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) from Australia will be represented by the Fire and Rescue NSW on Monday together with John Benson, Deputy Commissioner, who will accept the plaque.
Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch, will present the plaque to Deputy Commissioner Benson.