'Quake concerns quickly allayed as contact made

There were some very anxious moments yesterday for the many Meath residents who have relatives in Christchurch, New Zealand, when news of the earthquake which killed 65 people broke. An earthquake registering 6.3 on the Richter scale hit Christchurch shortly before midnight, Irish time or Tuesday afternoon, New Zealand time and left at least 65 people dead. For several Meath families there were anxious moments until they heard from their loved ones who are in New Zealand. Carlanstown man, John Clinton's parents and brother were in New Zealand at the time of the tremor, but all three were uninjured. His brother Peter lives near Christchurch and his parents, Tom and Helen were over visiting him. "They were in Christchurch a few hours before the tremor," he said. John got word on Tuesday morning that they were okay. He was lucky to have been spared the trauama of worrying about them, as the first he heard of the earthquake was when his sister sent him a text to say they were okay. Unfortunately for his sister, she had a few tense moments, as she learned of the earthquake before hearing her parents and brother were safe. However, she was able to contact them fairly quickly. Ryan Holmes who runs a filling station in Kilbbride, Clonee is a New Zealand native whose aunt and uncle live in Christchurch. He was shocked and upset to hear of the devastation in the city where he went to university. He was concerned for his aunt and uncle, but received a text from his parents to tell him they were fine. "It happened in the middle of the day, so they could have been anywhere at the time," he says. Ryan is from Dunedin, but studied in Christchurch which he says 'was flattened' by the tremor. "I was shocked to hear so many people are dead and that so many are missing. I know the city very well. It isn't a big sprawling city, so it is easy to get to know. It is very sad." Ryan heard the news as he made his way to work early on Tuesday morning and was relieved when he received his parents text. He said he had experienced many tremors and quakes as he grew up in New Zealand and as schoolchildren they were always taught what to do in the event of an earthquake. Meanwhile, Gavin Yeates of Dunboyne, whose parents David and Kitty were in New Zealand, received a message on Tuesday morning that they were all right. "They were on the North Island, so they were fine and they sent a text message to say everything was okay," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is urgently working with local officials in New Zealand to find out whether any Irish people have been affected by the earthquake. The Department is also trying to make contact with Irish nationals registered in the area. There are about 1,000 Irish-born people living in Christchurch. Anyone here who is concerned about their family or friends is advised to contact the Department on 014780822. There have been no reports yet of Irish nationals caught up in the quake.