ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
After the initial and very short spurt of terror and grief following Tuesday’s earthquake, Christchurch was showing its calm and collected side, Indian Weekender features writer Nalinesh Arun said.
“These are dignified people and they are dealing with the death, the grief and the destruction with stoic resilience. No sign of hysteria, even grief is expressed quietly and with dignity,’’ said Arun, the former Fiji journalist who now lives in Christchurch.
“You will not hear raised voice even in the most stressful of situations. That is why I call this place home. The media may try to paint a different picture - it is what they do.”
Two babies are among the 98 who have so far been confirmed dead in the Christchurch earthquake.
They are nine-month-old Jayden Harris and five-month-old Baxter Gowland, both from Christchurch.
Police also named Jaime Robert McDowell Gilbert, 22, who was running for his life from the Iconic Bar on Manchester St where he worked when he became trapped under rubble, and Joseph Tehau Pohio, 40.
Canterbury District Commander Dave Cliff said another 226 people had been reported missing by loved ones. The majority of the 98 confirmed deceased are expected to be included within the 226 missing.
He said that further names would not be released until identities were absolutely certain.
Rescue teams from all over the world including England, Australia, Japan and Taiwan had joined the New Zealand teams already on the ground.
The 6.3 magnitude earthquake has caused widespread death and destruction in the city which has had suffered its second earthquake mayhem in six months. In September last year, a 7.1 shake had also rocked the city but no lives were lost.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, called for prayers for the victims of Christchurch earthquake.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said: His heart and thoughts go to the victims’ families, injured, rescuers and relief workers. May God grant them strength, courage, comfort, and assistance.
Mr Zed said that he was full of sorrow for those who lost their lives in this calamity and urged other world religious leaders to join him in prayer for them. He appealed to the New Zealand Hindu community to wholeheartedly support the relief efforts and mobilise help for the affected.
This devastating 6.3 magnitude quake is New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster in 80 years.
After the initial and very short spurt of terror and grief following Tuesday’s earthquake, Christchurch was showing its calm and collected side, Indian Weekender features writer Nalinesh Arun said. “These are dignified people and they are dealing with the death, the grief and the destruction with...
After the initial and very short spurt of terror and grief following Tuesday’s earthquake, Christchurch was showing its calm and collected side, Indian Weekender features writer Nalinesh Arun said.
“These are dignified people and they are dealing with the death, the grief and the destruction with stoic resilience. No sign of hysteria, even grief is expressed quietly and with dignity,’’ said Arun, the former Fiji journalist who now lives in Christchurch.
“You will not hear raised voice even in the most stressful of situations. That is why I call this place home. The media may try to paint a different picture - it is what they do.”
Two babies are among the 98 who have so far been confirmed dead in the Christchurch earthquake.
They are nine-month-old Jayden Harris and five-month-old Baxter Gowland, both from Christchurch.
Police also named Jaime Robert McDowell Gilbert, 22, who was running for his life from the Iconic Bar on Manchester St where he worked when he became trapped under rubble, and Joseph Tehau Pohio, 40.
Canterbury District Commander Dave Cliff said another 226 people had been reported missing by loved ones. The majority of the 98 confirmed deceased are expected to be included within the 226 missing.
He said that further names would not be released until identities were absolutely certain.
Rescue teams from all over the world including England, Australia, Japan and Taiwan had joined the New Zealand teams already on the ground.
The 6.3 magnitude earthquake has caused widespread death and destruction in the city which has had suffered its second earthquake mayhem in six months. In September last year, a 7.1 shake had also rocked the city but no lives were lost.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, called for prayers for the victims of Christchurch earthquake.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said: His heart and thoughts go to the victims’ families, injured, rescuers and relief workers. May God grant them strength, courage, comfort, and assistance.
Mr Zed said that he was full of sorrow for those who lost their lives in this calamity and urged other world religious leaders to join him in prayer for them. He appealed to the New Zealand Hindu community to wholeheartedly support the relief efforts and mobilise help for the affected.
This devastating 6.3 magnitude quake is New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster in 80 years.
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