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The National Crisis Management Centre is operating overnight to ensure any central government support is available for Canterbury.
There has been widespread structural damage to buildings and smaller bridges and the centre is ensuring any help that might be needed is available at first light.
Water, sewerage and power services have been impaired but are being restored across the region.
The city has been rattled by around 30 aftershocks since the big tremor hit at 4.35am.
And severe winds predicted for tomorrow may be strong enough to further damage already fragile buildings after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Canterbury early this morning.
Many homes have been exposed to the weather which is forecast to take a turn for the worse with gales, and possibly hurricane force winds inland, predicted for tomorrow afternoon.
Emergency services are continuing to urge people to stay away from the city centre.
Ninety-one buildings in the city centre are of deep concern to emergency authorities as the extent of the damage is further revealed.
District commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said it's very dangerous inside the cordons.
He said after a major earthquake there's a risk of big aftershocks and authorities don't want more injuries.
Cliff said most people are listening to the warnings and everyone is behaving fairly well. He said there's a strong spirit in the city.
He said it's a major event that's hit but people are showing massive togetherness in the community.
Meanwhile, as darkness fell in New Zealand's second-largest city, a curfew was put in place for central Christchurch from 7pm until 7am tomorrow.
The curfew is mainly to protect people from falling debris, and anyone found in the CBD may be arrested.
Support on its way
Canterbury police will be supported by 80 Auckland officers flying in this evening to assist with general duties and recovery.
The army is also arriving to help with security, with much of the central business district still without power.
An Air Force Hercules has been sent to the region, with Urban Search and Rescue personnel and dogs to help in the aftermath of this morning's devastating earthquake.
There are 42 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) personnel from Auckland and Palmerston North, along with their equipment and three dogs, on board.
Two Iroquois helicopters from No. 3 Squadron at Ohakea have also been tasked to assist in Christchurch and will be used to undertake aerial reconnaissance and damage assessment as required by Civil Defence.
Due to potential contamination of the fuel at Christchurch airport, a RNZAF fuel tanker is heading from Ohakea to Christchurch to supply the RNZAF aircraft.
Search and rescue teams are also double checking for people who may be trapped under the rubble.
Two people are in hospital with serious injuries and hundreds of minor injuries were reported.
Welfare centres have been set up and anyone without power or who is feeling unsafe has been encouraged to head to one of the centres at Linwood High School, Burnside High School and Addington Raceway.
Prime Minister John Key said anyone who feels alone or frightened should head along and spend a night in the company of others. He said anyone needing more information can call the Earthquake Government Helpline 0800 77 99 97.
Anyone who needs information on income support, housing options, health issues, community assistance, Civil Defence or any other government service can also call the same number: 0800 77 99 97.
Christchurch Hospital is operating but anyone who is injured is being urged to go to their local medical clinic first, unless their situation is severe.
The quake
The quake struck in darkness but even in the pitch black conditions, it was clear how bad it was.
At the quake's epicentre near Darfield, the flat Canterbury Plains were thrust upward by several metres.
Experts are amazed no lives were lost although two people were seriously injured - one by falling glass and the other hit by one of the hundreds of chimneys that toppled all over the region.
The city is shattered, major roads are littered with debris and railway lines have buckled , hundreds of homes and other buildings are too dangerous for anyone to go inside, or near.
Key said the government will step up and give the people the support required ." He said the cost of damage in Canterbury is likely to be around $2 billion.
ONE News has been told of dozens of stories of escape and of the terror at the moment the earth moved.
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