Heartbreak in Christchurch

A few days ago I referenced The Boston Globe's amazing news photo site, The Big Picture. They have a collection of large format pictures taken in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake that struck. Because of their large format size you can see so much detail: the anguish on the faces of those concerned about victims, the determination on  rescuers' faces, the jubilation on the faces of survivors pulled from collapsed buildings. I was struck by the mix of those who pitched in to search for survivors immediately after the quake stopped. In one picture, a group of rescuers with hard hats is at work, assisted by a guy with a bike helmet on, still wearing his backpack, who obviously stopped his bike and dove in to help. Amazing how tragedy, and the desire to preserve life, forms an instant bond among the living. The pics are here.