Scenes From The Earthquake
The 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand's second largest city last week killed at least 148 people and forced hundreds to evacuate to hillside suburbs for fear of further aftershocks.
This was the second major earthquake to hit Christchurch in five months.
Police have said the death toll may rise to more than 200, with around 50 people still unaccounted for.
Prime Minister John Key is expected to unveil emergency assistance later on Monday which will support businesses and workers unable to operate because of the quake, similar to measures taken after the September quake.
Here are scenes from the devastation.
Updated 28 Feb 2011
Crushed Cars
Crushed cars are seen in a car parking building. Christchurch is New Zealand's second-largest city with a population of 400,000.
Church in Ruins
The Knox Presbytarian Church on Bealey Avenue lies in ruins in Christchurch, New Zealand. Also known as the Garden City, Christchurch has been described as a little piece of England.
It has an iconic cathedral, now largely destroyed, and a river called the Avon. It boasts several English-language schools and is a springboard for tours of the scenic South Island.
Destruction in Christchurch
Collapsed buildings in Manchester Street. The New Zealand Prime Minister said last week, "we may well be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day."
Crushed Cars
A car is crushed under a a garage roof on Cambridge Terrace on in Christchurch, New Zealand.
New Zealand sits between the Pacific and Indo-Australian
tectonic plates and records on average more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which about 20 would normally top
magnitude 5.0.
Destruction in Christchurch
A man retrieves his bike from the remains of a building. Christchurch is built on silt, sand and gravel with a water table below, worsening the damage.
Rescue Efforts Continue
Rescue workers carry the body of a deceased woman. Authorities ordered hospitals up and down the country to make room for victims. There were reports of a shortage of ambulances.
Condolence Messages
Words of condolence and sympathy messgages are placed at the site of a fatality in the suburb of Riccarton in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The dead and missing include people from 20 nations, including dozens of students from Japan, China and Taiwan.
NZ Earthquake Victims Named As Death Toll Increases
Members of a congregation comfort each other during a service at the Spreydon Baptist church in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Food Relief
Members of the community queue for food packs at Linwood Salvation army in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Water Efforts
Army officer continue to pump seawater at New Brighton Beach where they are operating a mobile desalination and water purification station providing freshwater to the community in New Brighton 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Deserted Shops
A deserted supermarket in Ferrymead near Sumner in Christchurch, New Zealand.