Two Israeli backpackers died in New Zealand quake
March 2nd, 2011 - 1:39 pm ICT by IANSChristchurch, March 2 (IANS) Two Israeli backpackers were among the dead in New Zealand’s Christchurch quake, a media report said Wednesday.
Gabi Moshe Ingel and Ofer Levy, both 22, were missing after the devastating quake Feb 22. On Tuesday, Ofer’s sister, Michal Levy, identified their bodies, New Zealand reported.
They were last seen checking out of a hostel in Manchester St 15 minutes before the quake.
A privately funded rescue team was quickly dispatched from Israel to Christchurch in the days following the tremor.
However, the team was denied the chance to search for the pair as they reportedly lacked the proper credentials.
Despite this, the team stayed in the country, constantly requesting to join officials to look for the pair.
But the group’s hopes of finding the men alive were dashed when Ofer’s sister identified the bodies, the newspaper said.
Levy had cut short her holiday in India to come and look for her brother and his childhood friend. The men’s families waited in Israel, desperate to hear from their loved ones.
A 6.3 magnitude quake rocked Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, Feb 22, which brought deaths and destructions. The New Zealand police Wednesday announced that the toll reached 160.
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Tags: 15 minutes, backpackers, brother, childhood friend, christchurch new zealand, city feb, deaths, gabi, hostel, India, ingel, israel, magnitude quake, manchester st, michal, moshe, ofer levy, proper credentials, tremor, zealand police