All Malaysians safe in New Zealand after quake

KUALA LUMPUR: All 390 Malaysian students in Christchurch are reported to be safe today after a strong earthquake hit the New Zealand city, toppling buildings, igniting fires and causing multiple deaths.Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A Kohilan Pillay said: "Officers from our High Commission in Wellington went to Christchurch after the earthquake struck this morning and found the students safe."

The earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale had cut off telecommunication links and had disrupted power, making contacts with the students difficult.Kohilan said that the High Commission had been directed to monitor the situation from Christchurch.The students are studying at the Canterbury, Otago and Lincoln universities.On Sept 4, Christchurch suffered the most destructive earthquake in 80 years when a 7.0 magnitude tremor damaged 100,000 homes.

There were no fatalities, but buildings were reported to have been damaged and weakened, and the city centre was cordoned off for weeks for fear that some would collapse.


Source : Bernama