News from the Valley of the Kings

There is at last some news on the principal museums in Christchurch, New Zealand and it is generally good.  The modern Art Gallery was so well built that it has become a civil defence centre for the relief effort. The article also has a report from the Director of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch who says that the building is sound.  That is good news because there was initial concern that this older building might have been been badly damaged.  The Director also says that 95% of the collection is safe, although in disarray; the remaining 5% will require assessment.  He should be congratulated for offering a balanced statement and so quickly in difficult circumstances. There is a further report from a couple who were visiting the Canterbury Museum when the quake struck. The museum has a small Egyptian section including this nice coffin and a rather fine Osiris.  I have not seen any reports of serious injuries to those in either building.

(I wouldn't normally cover this, but at the moment there is such a focus on the safety of heritage that I have been searching for this news myself.  So far I have seen no reports out of Libya which of course is culturally very rich and has strong historic ties to Egypt.)