One of the worst disasters in New Zealand's history earthquake shook a city to pieces

 The iconic Time Ball Station stands semi-destroyed

 This cliffside road between Lyttelton - the quake's epicentre - and the suburb of Sumner had a chunk sheared off it

The Timeball Station was badly damaged in the 6.3 magnitude earthquake

A row of cars covered by a collapsed building

A rescue worker hunting for signs of life in the Canterbury TV building

A fuel tanker had to be abandoned on the road between Lyttelton and Christchurch

Firefighters outside a collapsed building in Christchurch today

A vehicle stuck in the road after the ground broke up 

A rescue worker looks through the rubble of the CTV building

Is anyone there? Rescue teams used thermal cameras to locate survivors

A row of shops and offices is totally open after the front wall was ripped away  

Residents sheltering at the Salvation Army centre at Cowles Stadium

 A Baptist church lies in ruins