200 feared dead in New Zealand earthquake

Up to 200 people were feared dead after an earthquake hit New Zealand in one of the worst natural disasters in the country's history.

The powerful 6.3-magnitude quake struck about six miles outside Christchurch during lunchtime rush hour in the country today, causing widespread destruction and injury.

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Search-and-rescue teams are working through the night in the devastated city, which is on New Zealand's South Island, following reports that at least 100 people are trapped in ruined buildings.

The country's prime minister John Key confirmed at least 65 were dead but war- ned of a rising death toll, saying "we may be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day".

Eyewitnesses said the three-mile deep tremor - believed to be an aftershock from a 7.1 magnitude earthquake last September - levelled high-rise buildings, tore up pavements and sprayed rubble onto the streets below.

The mother of a former Shropshire woman said her daughter had been caught up in the chaos.

Val Hargrave, 66, of Telford, said she was devastated after speaking to her daughter, Amanda Hussain, 39, who lives in Christchurch with her two children and new husband Samaa.

Miss Hargrave said: "Amanda was in work when the earthquake hit and her colleague went outside to see what was going on and all of a sudden she saw a woman just flying through the air.

"She ran back inside and told Amanda to get out. They ran outside and very shortly afterwards the building just collapsed. It is just horrendous."

A state of emergency has been declared in the city, with collapsed debris and buildings trapping an unk nown number of people, although reports said the figure could be as high as 200 people.

British backpacker Christopher Ratcliffe, 27, said: "The city looked like a bomb had hit it."

The Queen said she was "utterly shocked" by the news and conveyed her "deep sympathy" to the families of the victims.

David Cameron also sent Britain's "deepest sympathies and condolences".

The Foreign Office is "urgently" seeking information about British casualties. It is not known if any Britons are among the dead.

By John Kirk and Jason Lavan