[VIDEOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] A 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand’s second-largest city Tuesday morning, sending buildings crashing to the street and toppling the city’s central Chabad-Lubavitch center.
According to Rabbi Shmuel Freedman, who moved to the area three months ago to co-direct the Christchurch headquarters of Chabad-Lubavitch of New Zealand under Rabbi Mendel Goldstein, he and other personnel were inside the center when the earthquake struck. Shouting into his cell phone – one of the few forms of communication that offered some connection to the outside world after the quake – the rabbi described a scene of pandemonium.
“We all ran out as it was falling down, but thank G-d everybody is okay,” he said from Latimar Square, where Jewish families were congregating in the search for survivors. “We are getting everybody together now at the square to see if anybody is missing, and we are working very hard to help everybody.”
Unconfirmed news reports indicated that a number of hotels had collapsed in the city, and The Wall Street Journal, citing SkyTV News, reported that police had confirmed numerous fatalities in Christchurch.
“Other reports include multiple building collapses, fires in buildings and persons reported trapped in buildings,” the police reported in a statement. “All available police staff are assisting with evacuations and emergency responses.”
At Latimar Square, 600 meters from the Chabad House, Freedman, Jewish community officials and the Israeli embassy set up an emergency meeting point. But according to Tzippy Freedman, events were forcing people to evacuate to tent cities set up in the parks around Christchurch Hospital.
The Freedmans’ personal home was still standing, she said. But “everything inside is ruined.”
“Everyone’s just trying to evacuate. It’s really hectic right now,” she said. “Everyone is going to be sleeping in tents tonight.”
The temblor follows a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in September 2010 that caused significant damage to buildings throughout Christchurch.
[WARNING – GRAPHIC IMAGES IN VIDEOS]
(Source: Chabad.org)
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6 Responses
This will postpone there vote to ban Shechita
If you think anyone in their government will take this as a sign from Above, think again. Postpone the vote? yes. Change it? no.
I’m awed that we have two neviim in our midst who know why Hashem brought about this earthquake.
I heard on another news outlet that an Anglican cathedral was also damaged by the quake. So who is Hashem made at? Anglicans or Chabadniks?
yehudayona – your sarcasm is not appreciated. i never claimed to be a prophet. i was merely responding to the first poster.
it is not for us to judge why things happen. we do however learn that in the days preceeding Moshiach, there will be a lot of disasters. read the news and see what’s going on all over the world.
nfgo3 – it’s possible that Hashem is not pleased with any or most of us – Jewish or non Jewish. but again, it’s not for us to judge. our job is to try and improve ourselves in every possible way.
Wow – it is not every day that you can read about a Chabad Center in Chr*st Ch*rch!! They really are everywhere!
I guess that is the name of the city?