First Anniversary Of Christchurch Earthquake, New Zealand (PICTURES)

First Anniversary Of Devastating Christchurch Earthquake (PICTURES)

Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, which killed 185 people and reduced the city to rubble.

The 6.3 magnitude quake struck at 12.51pm on 22 February 2011, causing around NZ$30bn (£16bn) worth of damage.

A crowd of more than 10,000 stood in Hagley Park to commemorate the anniversary, with police and firefighters who had been involved in the rescue efforts reading out the names of the dead, followed by a two minute silence.

Monarch butterflies, one for each of those who died in the natural disaster, were released by children as part of the memorial, and representatives from the Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and Jewish communities attended.

The US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who visited Christchurch only a few months before the tragedy, sent a video message which was played to the mourners.