By Simon Orwell
A memorial service is scheduled for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake for the March 18. Residents of the affected region will be given a public holiday so they can attend the service.
About 200 people are estimated to have died in the earthquake that hit the Christchurch city two weeks ago, and victims are still being retreived under toppled buildings. Many people are yet to be identified since DNA will be required to be collected from relatives, many of whom live overseas.
The prime minister of New Zealand, John Key, said, "The service will give people the chance to reflect on the terrible loss of life suffered as a result of the earthquake, and the huge impact it has had on our second-largest city." The memorial service is scheduled to be held in a Christchurch park, and legislation will be passed to give everyone in the Canterbury region the day off.
The cathedral of the city was one of the buildings to be destroyed, and up to 22 people are thought to have been buried in the debris. However, an extensive search that was concluded at the weekend found no bodies, meaning tht the final death toll may be lesser than feared. Many tourists have been reported missing by relatives who haven't heard from them, as more names are being added to the list, leading to the complication of identification process.
Key said that 10,000 homes would have to be demolished and another 100,000 would require repairs. Thousands of people are still without any water or sewerage and extra portable toilets are being brought into the city from abroad.
