-
Quake damage in the Kaiapoi area - Source: Photo by Brent Cairns -
Watch Video
-
Related
Day five live updates as they happened on tvnz.co.nz, in the aftermath of Saturday's massive earthquake in Canterbury.
11.59pm: Telecom says its services are standing up well in Canterbury, but ongoing aftershocks have the potential to generate further network faults. Telecom is working with Civil Defence agencies to complete restoration of services. 111 services are fully available. Telecom payphones in and around Christchurch are still free for local, national and mobile calls. Telecom asks people keep calls brief and prioritise important calls. A rising number of individual faults are being reported as people go back into their homes, and this is expected to increase significantly once the CBD reopens. Chorus, which maintains Telecom's network, is working as quickly as possible to get to these, and has brought in 100 additional people to help with ongoing restoration work.
10:46pm: This morning's big aftershocks in
Canterbury seem to have jolted a number of women into childbirth.
Maternity services had an influx of women, following the
tremors.
The Canterbury District Health Board says early this afternoon
there were 23 women in labour. Medical Officer of Health, Dr
Alistair Humphrey, says Akaroa Hospital, Lincoln Maternity Hospital
and the Burwood Birthing Unit remain closed. He says women can
still go to Christchurch Women's Hospital to give birth.
10.40pm: Sheffield School in the Selwyn District will not be open tomorrow. Principal Simon Moriarty says the school will reopen on Monday. He says the school has come out remarkably well, but there's concern about staff and student welfare. Moriarty says the staff would like a chance to meet and sort out a plan of action for children returning to school. He says other schools in the Malvern area have also decided not to open.
9.31pm: There's been a 3.9 aftershock, 30 km south-east of Darfield, at 9.14pm.
9.20pm: Inland Revenue has pledged to assist Canterbury customers concerned they might have tax or payment issues they need help with. The IRD says it will take a sympathetic and realistic approach with businesses trying to get back on their feet and reopen their doors. The IRD Disaster Response line is 0800 473 566. There are also moves to give tax credits to individuals and tax deductibility to companies that donate cash to earthquake relief.
8.50pm: Another aftershock has beeen recorded by GNS Science - at 8.23pm, 10 km south-west of Christchurch with a focal depth 8 km and magnitude 3.2.
8.10pm: Aftershock of 2.6 at 7.03pm within 5km of Lyttelton, 7km deep. Then 2.9 at 7.51pm - 10 km south-west of Christchurch. Depth of 4km.
8.00pm: Fresh aftershocks: 3.6 at 6.57pm, 30 km south-east of Darfield, depth of 5km; 2.8 at 6.48pm, within 5km of Lyttelton, 8km deep; 3.0 at 5.29pm 10 km south-west of Christchurch, 7km deep.
7:00pm: Residents in the Christchurch CBD and Banks Peninsula no longer have to boil their water for 3 minutes. However people in other parts of Canterbury such as Waimakariri still need to boil water for at least three minutes.
6.40pm: All non-urgent surgery has been cancelled at Christchurch, Christchurch Women's and Burwood hospitals for the remainder of the week. The Canterbury District Health Board says scheduled Caesarean sections and inductions will continue.Affected patients are being contacted.
6.30pm: State Highway 74, one of the main routes to the Port of Lyttelton, is still closed and will most likely reopen later this week.
5.44pm: Due to rock falls, Sumner Road, Lyttelton, will be closed to the public from Oxford Street to Summit Road until further notice, with access to essential traffic only.
5.12pm: The Ministry of Education has contacted 100 of the 165 state and state-integrated schools in the affected areas. None of them plans to open for students tomorrow, though many are likely to open for teachers and staff. Most have indicated that they don't intend opening for students until Monday.
4.56pm: Latest aftershock was at 4.42pm and measured 3.4. It was centred 10 km south-west of Christchurch at a depth of 8 km. The total number of aftershocks since Saturday is now above 270.
4.43pm: PM John Key on special legislation for retrospective building consents: "We are not entirely sure about whether we need that legislation but we're looking at that possibility." If needed, it will be passed next week.
4.37pm: More than two hundred homes in Kaiapoi , or one fifth of the residential properties so far assessed for structural or sanitary safety, are now known to be impacted. Access is restricted to 155 and 50 homes are considered unsafe.
The central business district has now reopened, from 7am to 7pm only, but there is still limited access and intermittent closures due to ongoing repair work. A total of 22 commercial buildings are currently considered unsafe and access is restricted to 33 others.
Water has been restored to around 85% of the area, though it must be boiled in Kaiapoi, Waikuku, Pines and Kairaki Beaches and Woodend. There is a water tanker at the welfare centre at the Kaiapoi Rugby Football Clubrooms in Smith Street.
All surface water, including the Kaiapoi River, streams and water ponding on streets and properties, and all silt and sand, should be treated as contaminated.
4.32pm: Update from Gerry Brownlee:
- Details of a "rapid repair settlement" process, a
retrospective consent process for building work and 10 field
offices will be announced on Friday.
- New web site set up
canterburyearthquake.govt.nz
- 91 firms have registered under the wages assistance scheme
- 36 more engineers are to arrive to assist with inspections
- 70 per cent of commercial buildings that have been inspected are
OK
- 70 individual buildings have been red stickered (not
safe), 210 have been yellow stickered (restricted access)
3.51pm: Treasury is now estimating that the cost of the damage will be $4billion and that GDP will drop by half a per cent.
3:50pm: An amazing visual display of the scores of quakes in Canterbury since Saturday, created by Paul Nicholls of the University of Canterbury, is proving a huge hit online. See it here
3.44pm: Police and the Fire Service say a rumour circulating that there is a fire at the Lyttelton petrol tank facility is untrue. The petrol storage facilities are secure.
3.32pm: Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is due to give a briefing about now. Earlier, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told a media conference: "We need to be talking as a community. That is one of the most healing things we can do for each other."
3.24pm: There are now around 200 homes without power. Roger Sutton, CEO of Orion, is urging anyone still without power to contact the company urgently on 03 363 9898.
3.19pm: The Christchurch courts complex has been cleared to open following this morning's aftershock. Essential court proceedings have continued where possible though four jury trials scheduled in Christchurch this week have been postponed due to the unlikely availability of many jurors. Some minor hearings are being postponed.
Any Canterbury residents with concerns about fines or reparations as a result of the earthquake should call 0800 4 FINES. Anyone due to be on jury service next week should ring 03 962 4399 over the weekend.
3.14pm: Another aftershock, 3.1 at 3pm, centred 10km south-west of Christchurch.
3.13pm: Another aftershock was recorded at 2.49pm. It was 30km south-east of Darfield and measured 4.3 on the Richter scale.
2:45pm: There is an increasing demand from the public for services at welfare centres, St John ambulance says.
It also says its St Asaph Street ambulance station was evacuated this morning as it is structurally unsound. Ambulances have been relocated to other city stations.
There are currently 16 ambulances on the road covering the areas in Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Rolleston and Lyttelton, two more than usual. There are also three first-response vehicles and six patient transport vehicles working in Christchurch.
2:26pm: Care for elderly Christchurch residents
affected by the earthquake will be provided at Princess Margaret
Hospital.
The District Health Board is setting up a special respite ward.
2:20pm: There have been reports of sulphur
smells in parts of Christchurch. Firefighters and Environment
Canterbury's Hazardous Substance team have been investigating the
smell. They say at this point there's no indication it should be of
concern to residents.
It does not appear to be a gas leak.
2:17pm: Orion says power has been restored to
all customers who lost supply due to this morning's aftershock in
Christchurch.The lines company says it is now again focussed on
it's original target of restoring power to all customers by the end
of the week.
It's estimated several hundred are still without power. All those
with no power should contact Orion on 363 9898.
1:49pm: The latest aftershock came at 1.48 and measured 4.1 on the Richter scale. It was very shallow at just five kilometres.
1:35pm: Eastgate Shopping Centre in Christchurch is open.
1:28pm: The Earthquake Commission has updated the number of claims received since Saturday's quake. As of 1.25pm today, there were 29,678 claims.
1:10pm: Christchurch did not suffer any significant damage from this morning's big aftershock, Civil Defence says. Civil Defence director John Hamilton said some inspected buildings would require re-assessment.
12:48pm: The Kaiapoi Welfare Centre has been moved. It's now located at the Kaiapoi Rugby Club Rooms on Smith Street. Any residents who need food or water, or have welfare issues, are urged to seek help there.
12:34pm: Three shopping malls have been closed in Christchurch following this morning's big aftershock. It's understood The Palms, Eastgate and Northlands have all closed their doors while they're assessed for damage.
11:54am: John Key says a parliamentary bill may be needed to speed up the rebuilding process in Canterbury. Speaking to media from the quake-hit region, Key said Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee was today meeting with Local Government New Zealand, the Earthquake Commission and private insurers to look at how repair processes might be hastened.
11:41am: The Lyttelton Tunnel has been re-opened. Up to date information on Canterbury state highways including the Lyttelton Tunnel can be found at highwayinfo.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 44 44 49.
11:38am: The government has set aside $2.4 million for trauma counselling for Christchurch earthquake victims, Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett says. Speaking in Christchurch, she said 34 counsellors from across New Zealand would head to the quake-stricken city today.
11:32am: Schindler Lifts is asking that people not use lifts in buildings following the latest aftershocks. Also, all Christchurch City Council Libraries, recreation and sport centres, art gallery and service centres are closed until further notice. However, Christchurch airport has escaped unscathed from the latest jolt - it's still up and running.
11:12am: The NZ Transport Agency says assessment of the Lyttelton Tunnel is continuing and no decision on re-opening it is likely until early afternoon. The tunnel was closed shortly after the aftershock that struck at 7.50am this morning to allow safety checks to be carried out for possible damage.
10.55am: The State of Emergency in Christchurch will be extended for another seven days.
10:32am: The Queen has wished Cantabrians well following the earthquake .
"The Queen has today asked the New Zealand Prime Minister to send her good wishes to those affected by and helping with the aftermath of Saturday's earthquake in Christchurch," a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
10:30am: KiwiRail says this morning's aftershocks continue to affect South Island rail services. Passenger train services out of the city are affected, but freight services are unlikely to be affected. Trains within the earthquake zone stopped shortly before 8.00am but trains are likely to be cleared to move after track inspections.
10:01am: Telecom says while this morning's large aftershock caused a brief interruption to services in central parts of Christchurch, the majority of service has been restored.
9:55am: Canterbury District Health Board says all outpatient clinic appointments at Christchurch Hospital have been cancelled today. The situation will be reviewed later today, although at this stage tomorrow's appointments are still going ahead.
9:52am: 3.5 aftershock 20km south-east of Darfield.
9:39am: 4.0 aftershock 10km south-east of Christchurch.
9:05am: Lyttelton Tunnel (SH74) is closed until further notice.
9:01am: GeoNet says an aftershock measuring 4.4
occurred 20 km east of Darfield at a depth of nine
kilometres.
8:42am:
Orion CEO Roger Sutton says the 5.1 aftershock did
take out "quite a lot of power". He told TV ONE's Breakfast that,
for safety reasons, "a lot of the power system is actually
designed to go off when something like a big earthquake
happens".
8:31am: 3.8 aftershock 10km south-east of Christchurch.
8:30am: John Key has arrived in Kaiapoi. He has visited several homes affected by the quake this morning.
"One of them shows you how well the building code works in New Zealand," he said. "The house was literally picked up and ripped apart, yet the structure survived enough to ensure the people inside were able to escape."
8:15am: GeoNet says another larger aftershock hit at 7.49am. This one was measured at 5.1 and was 10 km south-east of Christchurch. Do you have video of the large aftershock? Send it to ONE News at news@tvnz.co.nz
7:57am: GeoNet says the aftershock is 4.1 20km south-east of Darfield. ONE News reporter Ruth Wynn-Williams described the quake as very sharp and very sudden. "That certainly gave everyone a bit of a fright," she said.
7:50am: Canterbury residents say there has been another big earthquake in the area, with some describing it as the biggest since the first one on Saturday morning.
7:39am: Civil Defence says all schools in Christchurch city, Selwyn and Waimakariki Districts will now remain closed today.
The Director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, John Hamilton, said some schools might reopen tomorrow, but that it is a decision for individual Board of Trustees to make.
Parents can contact their own schools for specific information about the situation there.
7:36am: Attempts will be made today to find new homes for quake-affected Christchurch businesses. The cordoned-off area in the CBD has shrunk as more buildings are assessed, but a part of the city is still closed off.
Central City Business Association General Manager Paul Lonsdale is meeting with the city's main leasing agents to talk about where to house their tenants.
6:46am: tvnz.co.nz has collated together essential information about the earthquake - including helplines and official site information, as well as donation information. Check it out here.
6:25am: Farmers in areas affected by the Canterbury earthquake are being warned to check whether damage to their irrigation systems has left equipment "live" with the electricity connected to pumps.
The full extent of damage to irrigation wells, pipelines and systems has not yet been assessed, but Irrigation NZ today warned farmers to take extreme care .
"As power is restored there is potential for real danger in irrigation electrical systems," said the body's technical spokesman, Stephen McNally.
Farmers should turn off the power supply at the mains if electricity supply to the pump had been cut, but needed to be wary of surface water around electrical hardware and fallen lines.
"If in doubt, do not touch," McNally said.
6:22am: 3.5 aftershock 20km east of Darfield.
6:09am: 3.7 aftershock 20 km south-east of Darfield.
5:29am: Schools in the Waimakariri and Selwyn districts may be cleared to open this morning, while schools in Christchurch could start opening from tomorrow.
Schools were meant to remain shut until next week, but Civil Defence is now allowing individual boards of trustees to decide when it is safe for their students to return.
Parents should contact their schools for specific information.
5:26am: Authorities say a state of emergency will remain in place today and this will be reassessed throughout the day.
The building evaluation team have now assessed 970 buildings within the CBD and along the edge of arterial roads. Teams will now move their focus to suburban areas, starting with Brooklands and Bexley.
Water is still off in approximately 66 streets. There is also approximately 500 homes without power.
Sewage issues in some areas remains a key concern. Port-a-loos were delivered to areas without water last night and more will be going out this morning.
3:59am: 4.5 aftershock within 5km of Darfield.
3:47am: 3.7 aftershock 30 km east of Darfield.
12:41am: 4.6 aftershock 30 km south-east of Darfield.
Read yesterday's live updates .
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.