Only last month, Christchurch hosted more than 1,000 elite athletes from over 70 countries for the IPC Athletics World Championships but following the jubilation of hosting the event, the earthquake today has been described by New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key as "New Zealand's darkest day."

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President said: "This is truly devastating news and on behalf of the whole Paralympic Movement I would like to send our thoughts and condolences to the people in Christchurch.

"I would also like to convey our deepest sympathies to those who have tragically lost loved ones in this disaster.

"Christchurch is a great city with some great people.

"The people there are strong and resilient and they need to call on all that strength and courage now as they attempt to rebuild their lives and infrastructure.

The earthquake follows a major 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch on September 4 last year and put the IPC Athletics World Championships in doubt.

Another three earthquakes measuring 5.1, 3.4 and 4.0 on the Richter scale again rocked Christchurch the day before the Championships began but the earthquake today has caused far more devastation than those that preceded it.

Unlike the previous earthquakes, the shock of the latest earthquake hit around lunchtime on a busy working day, causing multi-storey buildings collapsed in on themselves while streets were strewn with bricks and shattered concrete.

More than 100 people were thought to still be trapped in the rubble while rescuers are continuing a desperate search for survivors amid the ruins of the New Zealand city.

Despite the chaos to the city of 350,000, insideworldparasport understands that the Local Organising Committee for the IPC Athletics World Championships and the Paralympics New Zealand staff in the city are unharmed by the earthquake.

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