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President Bishop Declares Lasting State of National Emergency, Pledges to Rebuild Following Quake


IF YOU ARE IN DANGER, PLEASE CALL 88-03

THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAMASTAN HAS ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AT 2:08 pm TODAY, THE ZAMASTAN GEOLOGICAL SERVICE DETECTED A STRONG EARTHQUAKE RESIDENTS ARE WARNED OF POSSIBLE AFTERSHOCKS

TSUNAMI WARNING HAS BEEN LIFTED

President Bishop on Friday night stood in front of the damaged Congressional Hall doors with flood lights illuminating the famed corridors, currently being monitored closely for possible collapse. As emergency crews across the Tofino-Arinals Metro, nearly 200 miles north along the Coastal Valley, and the city of Providence work to dig survivors out of rubble, Bishop assured the nation that they will rebuild following the largest and most devastating earthquake to hit Zamastan in over a century.

"Our nation has been rocked by the ferocity of mother nature," Bishop began her speech stating, "and as our people try to come to terms with the devastation that we have not often seen, we see the goodness of our culture and our people."

Bishop cited the works of rescue teams who have worked tirelessly, as well as the citizens who jumped into the fray to help those who were trapped.

"These individuals show that Zamastan is stable under any circumstance. They make our nation great. They are the reason we can persevere."

The Big One

Just over 100 years and four months ago, the 1919 Tofino Earthquake killed over 40,000 people in one of the most destructive and deadly natural disasters in the history of the IDU. That earthquake is estimated to have been measured at 7.5 magnitude. For the past century, no earthquake passed 7.6 in magnitude, and few caused destruction and death as extensive as the 1919 quake. An earthquake in 1973 killed 98 people in Providence, and a 1997 quake killed 43 in Kelowna and the surrounding area.

Friday's quake, measuring in at 8.3, is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Zamastan and by far the largest measured in the IDU since 2000. It is also shaping out to be one of the most deadly natural disasters to face both Zamastan and the IDU in recent years. The death toll has already exceeded 2,500 and is expected to continue climbing in the coming days.

Eyewitness Accounts

Miranda Phelpin, a resident in Kelowna, experienced the quake from her apartment room.

"I was chatting inside our apartment on the first floor in Timell, Kelowna's central shopping district, when the beds around us began shaking. We have already had many aftershocks from the July quakes, so we initially assumed it was one of these, but the intensity kept building. The ground below felt like it was melting, or rippling like a swimming pool

"I could hear yelling and screams from outside. We bolted out of the room, running down the stairs, which were moving underneath us. We ran into a courtyard outside the apartment, looking above for signs of movement. The ground below felt like it was melting, or rippling like a swimming pool. I dived under a table outside with five others. Everyone was making eye contact and some were screaming.

"Someone called that it wasn't safe so we ran to a wider space. There were high buildings all around us so we kept looking upwards, waiting to see if there was any debris coming down. Everyone was huddling together, some staring numbly, others trying to call relatives.

"I think I just stood there, in a sort of mild shock for a few minutes. My heart was racing and I kept feeling the ground below me. I didn't see any buildings collapse, but we could hear the ambulances and people shouting in the distance."

James Onten and his family, originally from Cadair, also lives in Kelowna: "I was working at my desk when it hit, so I got under. It felt as though a giant had hold of the house and shook and shook and shook it, everything shaking and swaying. The ground is still moving as though we are on jelly. My nerves are shot for the time being. Thankfully we are all safe.

"My son works for a ZSuites outlet down the road and is walking home, my wife has been out but is coming home. We are putting up tents on the waste ground beside our house, which we did after the last one. We'll sleep out there tonight. Our house does look okay, in the local neighborhood some walls are down and a six story block of flats has major cracks. It is probably compounded damage since the last time."

Rising Death Toll and Infrastructure Reactions

The death toll across the Zamastan Coast has risen to 2,500, with 8,000 people injured. Zamastanian officials said that the death toll will climb as buildings and rubble continues to be cleared. The rescue and recovery efforts are expected to take upwards of several weeks. Neighborhoods have been virtually leveled in some instances, according to Kelowna authorities.

At least 76 climbers, including four Maximusians, three United New Englanders, and a Cadairian, died after a series of avalanches buried the Grouse Mountain base camp.

Highway systems along the coastal region have been shut down by authorities to allow for rescue efforts to move smoothly. Tofino International Airport (Tofino), Hapson International Airport (Providence), and Kelly Ellis International Airport (Kelowna) are only allowing limited flights for foreigners who are on flights returning home, as well as for aid flights.

International Reactions

Among the reactions of the global community, President Tyagi-Kennedy of the United New England stated "New Englanders were deeply saddened to hear of today’s earthquake in Zamastan. We mourn the deaths of the many victims who were taken by this sudden tragedy, and our hearts go out to the grieving survivors. We are ready to provide monetary and medical aid wherever it is needed."

Chancellor Hendry of Sanctaria posted on social media stating that she was "wholeheartedly saddened to hear of (the) earthquake off the coast of Zamastan." She also stated that her "thoughts ae with the victims and their families," as well as that "President Bishop and the government" could "count on Sanctarian assistance". The Chancellor is convening an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the disaster, and Sanctarian Foreign Secretary Brian Young announced that he will meet with the relief organization SanctariaAid to discuss emergency deployment of aid workers. The government of Sanctaria is also working to establish how many Sanctarians were affected by the quake. The Zamastanian government is in cooperation with all foreign governments to get accurate and up to date statements on how many foreign nationals were affected by the quake.

The Prime Minister of Gardavasque, Yorick Spence, who attended the Tofino Summit, pledged aid to Zamastan, and also stated that a team of search and rescue specialists are standing by if requested by the Zamastanian government.

Other nations have mentioned support and thoughts in press conferences, and many more official statements are expected to be coming in the next few days.

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