More than 65 killed in New Zealand earthquake

British nationals caught up in the quake on the South Island today spoke of the chaos and devastation following the disaster.

The powerful 6.3-magnitude quake struck six miles outside Christchurch during the lunchtime rush hour, causing widespread destruction and injury.

Eyewitnesses said the three-mile deep tremor, believed to be an aftershock from a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck last September, levelled high-rise buildings, tore up pavements and sprayed rubble on to the streets below.

Even the iconic cathedral, in the city centre, was not spared as its steeple toppled down wrecking a large part of the church.

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A state of emergency has been declared in the city with collapsed debris and buildings trapping many. Christchurch's mayor has said that at least 200 people are believed trapped.

Prime minister John Key held an emergency Cabinet meeting then rushed to the stricken city. "It is a just a scene of utter devastation," he said, before revealing the death toll was 65, and may rise.

Emergency officials have said that between 200 and 300 are feared to have been killed.

"This may be New Zealand's darkest day," he told TV One News.

Earlier he had said the disaster had struck at a time when the city was at its most populated, with people at work and children at school.

Mr Key said people were being told to get out of the city for their safety, while the airport was closed and Christchurch Hospital was evacuated.

New Zealand police said in a statement that there were reports that two buses had been crushed by falling buildings.

British backpacker Christopher Ratcliffe, 27, was forced to shelter under a desk in Christchurch library when the quake struck.

"The building started to shake, my computer screen started to flicker and then the books started to fly off the shelves so I just dived under my desk," said the traveller from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

"I have experienced a few aftershocks before this, but this was totally different.

"When I came outside the city looked like a bomb had hit it. There was dust and smoke in the air and bits of glass and rubble falling from buildings. People were walking around covered in blood and in tears - it was just shocking."

Mr Ratcliffe, who has been in Christchurch for a month while on a round-the-world trip, continued: "As I walked through the city centre there was damage on every road and some roads were totally destroyed. Half of the front of the Cathedral had fallen off and there were ambulances and helicopters everywhere."It was just madness."

He said many of the injured were being treated at an emergency treatment centre in Christchurch's Latimer Square, with helicopters airlifting casualties from other parts of the devestated city.

Roads around the city centre had also been closed off while emergency workers co-ordinate the rescue operation, which is being hampered by flooding from burst water pipes.

Barnaby Luck, from Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales, was in a hostel when the disaster hit at 12.51pm local time.

He said: "Everything started shaking and it became more and more violent - it was like someone had got hold of the building and was shaking it and swinging it back and forwards - so I just jumped under my bunk bed."

The 29-year-old, who has been travelling in New Zealand since last November, added: "Once it stopped I was really shaken up and went outside. A tree had fallen in a communal area where a lot of backpackers had been sitting a few minutes before which was scary, but I only realised the magnitude of it when I looked up the street.

"The gable side of a building 100 yards away was completely levelled and as I made my way into the centre of the town there was just total devastation. One four-storey building was completely razed to the ground and windows and parts of other buildings were damaged.

Geri Nolan, the owner of Around the World Backpackers hostel, where Mr Luck was staying, said she had feared all her 37 guests were dead".

"I was down the road getting lunch when it happened and immediately thought that my hostel had collapsed. Luckily it was OK but the city is ruined. It has been horrible."

The Foreign Office said it was "urgently" seeking information about British casualties. It is not know if any Britons are among the dead.