From ENS-
Diocese of Christchurch Bishop Victoria Matthews says that in the New Zealand city that is reeling from a magnitude-6.3 earthquake that struck on Feb. 22 just before 1 p.m. local time there "are high, high levels of anxiety, and a sense of despair."
Speaking to Anglican Taonga, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia's news service, Matthews said that "there are still many people who have been unable to make contact with members of their family and with their closest friends."
In an official statement, Matthews said, "I join you in giving thanks for the extraordinary work done by the emergency workers. This even more devastating earthquake calls us to reach out into the community and make sure no one is overlooked. In short, be calm, be sensible, be compassionate, be a good neighbor. Pray for confidence that God will see us through."
The confirmed death toll stands at 71, but it is expected to rise. For instance, the Very Rev. Peter Beck, dean of Christchurch Cathedral, told Anglican Taonga that when search and rescue teams enter the landmark cathedral, he thinks they'll find victims. The cathedral's spire collapsed during the quake. The cathedral has long been a major tourist attraction and visitors were in building when the quake hit.
"We are very fearful," he said, "that there are some people under that rubble."
More here-
http://www.episcopal-life.org/79425_127250_ENG_HTM.htm
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