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The State of Emergency in Christchurch will be extended for another seven days after the strongest aftershock since Saturday's 7.1 magnitude quake caused new damage, cut power and sent people running into city streets.
The 5.1 magnitude aftershock at 7.49am was centred near Lyttelton and forced the Lyttelton Tunnel to be closed for safety checks. The tunnel has since been re-opened.
The 5.1 aftershock at a depth of six kilometres followed a 4.1 quake at 7:42 am, and came after another swarm of aftershocks overnight.
"It did take out quite a lot of power," Orion chief executive Roger Sutton told TV ONE's Breakfast.
However, they anticipated having the power up again reasonably quickly. Sutton said much of the power system is designed to go off for safety reasons when something like a big earthquake happens.
Their advice to residents is don't panic and take care.
Sutton said if people have damage to buildings after the big aftershock, they should turn power off at the mains. People should not use lifts as the power could go off again.
ONE News reporter Ruth Wynn-Williams spoke to TV ONE's Breakfast shortly after the big aftershock and said it had "jolted the living daylights" out of her.
She described the aftershock as very sharp and very sudden.
"That certainly gave everyone a bit of a fright," she said.
Inner city residents were evacuated once again, including those
at the Civil Defence headquarters.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said it was a "very mean, very sharp
and very frightening earthquake".
And as emergency crews check for fresh damage, Parker is calling
for calm.
"The big message we need to get out to the city is if we can stay
calm in the face of this adversity, make sure your family's okay.
Don't go out, stay home, keep near the radio."
At Civil Defence headquarters, he says safety is the utmost
concern.
"There are hundreds of people in this city working really hard to put the power back on, make sure the water is there, to make sure we can make this place safer for you. Trust us."
PM visits quake-hit Kaiapoi district
Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Key this morning visited the Kaiapoi district, north of Christchurch, to view the damage caused by Saturday's quake.
Key, accompanied by Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson, Civil Defence Minister John Carter, Agriculture Minister David Carter and newly appointed Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, was taken through the hardest-hit areas of the town, where houses had been entirely ripped from their foundations.
"It shows you how well the building code works in New Zealand as they had been picked up, ripped apart and yet the structure has survived enough that people could escape," Key said after viewing one house.
Key spoke with Andrew Blackwell, the fifth-generation owner of Kaiapoi's historic Blackwell's Department Store, which crumbled in the quake.
"It's been in operation since 1871, so it's been around a long time, but it hasn't survived this earthquake," Key said.
Key stopped to speak to local residents about their experiences in the quake and hear how they were coping in the aftermath.
Leanne Lloyd, 46, told Key her power was back on, but that she was still without water and sewerage services.
"We've got the portaloos, but you don't want to be in there in an aftershock - in and out as quick as you can," Lloyd told a laughing Key.
After leaving Kaiapoi, the politicians headed west to Kirwee and were then to travel south to the quake's epicentre in Selwyn.
Key, who cancelled his trip to Europe yesterday, is planning more visits to the earthquake-torn region.
"At this stage it would be my intention to come back on Saturday, although that's very much a work in progress at the moment, and then I'll return next week," he said yesterday.
Aftershocks delay passenger trains
Train freight services are unlikely to be affected by the aftershocks in the Christchurch region, KiwiRail says.
Trains within the earthquake zone stopped shortly before 8am - when the magnitude 5.1 aftershock hit the region - but significant damage was not expected, KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said.
Trains were likely to be cleared to move after track inspections.
Ramshaw said two South Island-based passenger trains were scheduled to run today for the first time since Saturday's quake.
The TranzCoastal service would now arrive late in Picton after being stopped just north of Rangiora by an aftershock.
The Greymouth-bound TranzAlpine which had been scheduled to leave Christchurch at 8.15am had been replaced by buses. Freight movements were not expected to be affected.
Schools stay closed
Meanwhile, all schools in earthquake affected areas of Canterbury will remain closed today.
Civil Defence says all schools in Christchurch city, Selwyn and Waimakariki Districts will remain closed today.
The Director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, John Hamilton, said some schools might reopen on Thursday, but that is a decision that the individual Board of Trustees for each school to make.
He said Boards of Trustees must consider the safety of the schools when deciding whether to reopen.
Parents can contact their own schools for specific information about the situation there.
Damage claims mount up
Claims to the Earthquake Commission (EQC) for damage to homes following Saturday's earthquake are likely to cost close to the $2 billion mark.
The EQC deals only with claims from house owners, not from businesses, and said yesterday it had received 21,000 claims and expected that figure to climb to at least 100,000.
"We are rapidly increasing numbers of lines and call centre staff and expect that the problem will ease over the next few days," commission chief executive Ian Simpson said.
Key said it was too early to put a figure yet on the total cost of rebuilding.
"Some early estimates are around $2 billion, but it could be more, we just don't know."
The government announced a wage subsidy of $350 gross a week for workers in businesses that have fewer than 20 employers and that haven't been able to open because of the quake.
Civil Defence advised people in the Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn districts to be prepared for aftershocks for the next few weeks - there have been 300 since Saturday morning's quake.
There were fears for city centrepiece, Christchurch Cathedral, where cracks were found, prompting the renewal of a cordon around it.
Civil Defence said two historic buildings in Manchester Street were not demolished yesterday, despite earlier advice. The former New Zealand Express Co Ltd building will be demolished, but dismantling it may take several weeks.
Cecil House will be subject to further inspection.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentmusopete said on 2010-09-10 @ 12:47 NZDT: Report abusive post
Go the Kiwi battler! Hold ya heads high.
Australianne said on 2010-09-10 @ 11:40 NZDT: Report abusive post
2nd that about the light font...it is difficult to read. Just wanted to say I'm so proud of NZers for the way in which they've pulled together in such a uniquely Kiwi way. No other country (even Australia) comes close to that! Well, maybe Australia comes close, but still, Kiwis lead the world in their kind-hearted attitude in the face of disaster.
H said on 2010-09-10 @ 10:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
Would love to comment but the comments are displayed on this website in such a tiny, light coloured font that they're virtually unreadable.
SSAMA said on 2010-09-10 @ 07:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
CD has done a great job in difficult circumstances - difficult to get up to date info to people without power. Website I have found most useful for info is the TVNZ live updates - great that it is updated regularly and the info is generally accurate. Well done TVNZ
Australianne said on 2010-09-09 @ 20:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
Given that TVNZ is probably a world leader in their ability to keep us all informed after the earthquake, CD has done an ok job. But note, that is 'ok', not 'wonderful'. CD should link up with TVNZ and learn how to get that info out in a timely manner! This is more a pat on the back to TVNZ than having a go at CD. I'm sure they have lots of other duties keeping them busy. Keep it up guys. Well done.