New Zealand: Two-minute silence observed, quake toll may reach 240

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New Zealand: Two-minute silence observed, quake toll may reach 240

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New Zealanders observed nation-wide two-minutes of silence on Tuesday marking one week since a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch killing more than 150.

01 March,2011 06:15 am

Prime Minister John Key observed the silence along with the citys mayor Bob Parker in Christchurch while hundreds gathered outside the parliament in Wellington. Millions of New Zealanders across the country paused at 12:51 NZT for two minutes. Authorities earlier in the day said the death toll from the quake might hit 240 as search and rescue crews continued to comb through the rubble for bodies.