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New Zealand's quake-hit cathedral to be demolished

epa03129015 (FILE) The Christchurch Catholic Cathedral is extensively damaged after an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 22 February 2011. The earthquakes that ravaged Christchurch have claimed their latest victim in the shape of the city's 131-year-old cathedral, church officials announced on 02 March 2012. Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews said the 'hard reality' was that the building could not be safely restored after parts of it crumbled in the deadly 6.3-magnitude earthquake of February 22, 2011, and it was further weakened by the many aftershocks. The landmark building at the heart of the South Island city would be demolished and replaced with a 'new vision,' she said. The decision has already drawn anger from many people who wanted to restore the cathedral. EPA/DAVID WETHEY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
epa03129015 (FILE) The Christchurch Catholic Cathedral is extensively damaged after an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 22 February 2011. The earthquakes that ravaged Christchurch have claimed their latest victim in the shape of the city's 131-year-old cathedral, church officials announced on 02 March 2012. Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews said the 'hard reality' was that the building could not be safely restored after parts of it crumbled in the deadly 6.3-magnitude earthquake of February 22, 2011, and it was further weakened by the many aftershocks. The landmark building at the heart of the South Island city would be demolished and replaced with a 'new vision,' she said. The decision has already drawn anger from many people who wanted to restore the cathedral. EPA/DAVID WETHEY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUTDAVID WETHEY / EPA
By PhotoBlog

AP reports: Anglican church officials in New Zealand say an iconic cathedral in downtown Christchurch must be demolished because earthquakes damaged it beyond repair.

ChristChurch Cathedral is the city's best-known building, but its climbable spire collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed many other downtown buildings. Officials had thought part of the building could be saved, but they said Friday that recent aftershocks caused even more damage.

Anglican church officials in New Zealand say an iconic cathedral in downtown Christchurch must be demolished because earthquakes damaged it beyond repair.

ChristChurch Cathedral is the city's best-known building, but its climbable spire collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed many other downtown buildings. Officials had thought part of the building could be saved, but they said Friday that recent aftershocks caused even more damage.

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