Deadly earthquake rocks New Zealand

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand Prime Minister John
Key says there are "scenes of utter devastation" following a
powerful earthquake in the city of Christchurch.
      At least 65 people have been killed and others are trapped in
collapsed structures. The quake, which measured 6.3, struck at the
height of a busy workday, toppling tall buildings and churches, and
crushing buses.
      This was the second major quake to hit Christchurch in five
months. September's tremor was more powerful, but caused less
damage and no deaths. It also struck before dawn on a weekend.
      The spire of the city's well-known stone cathedral toppled into
a central square. Video footage showed multistory buildings
collapsing in on themselves.
      Groups of people helped victims clutching bleeding wounds.
Others were carried to private vehicles in makeshift stretchers
fashioned from rugs or bits of debris.
      Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker declared a state of emergency, and
ordered people to evacuate the city center. Troops have been
deployed to help people get out and to throw up a security cordon
around the stricken area.