One in 3 Buildings Face Demolition After NZ Quake

Hundreds of suburban homes might come down as well
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 26, 2011 9:55 AM CST
New Zealand Eqarthquake: One in 3 Buildings in Christchurch Face Demolition
Maree, left, daughter Jasmine, center, and Norm Butcher take a last look at their destroyed home in Christchurch, New Zealand , Saturday.   (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Just how powerful was that earthquake in New Zealand? One structural engineer assessing the damage estimates that one in three buildings in the city center of Christchurch might have to come down, reports BBC. In addition, hundreds of suburban homes look to be doomed as well. Damage from the 6.3-magnitude quake was magnified because it had one of biggest measures of ground acceleration (or "extreme shaking") ever recorded. Click for more on that. The death toll has risen to 144, as hope for the remaining 200 missing people fades. (More Christchurch earthquake stories.)

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