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Christchurch CBD is shrouded in dust following the 6.0 magnitude quake on June 13 - Source: Lisa Gane -
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There have been reports of widespread damage in Christchurch after two major aftershocks struck the city today.
Power was out in around 20,000 homes and businesses tonight, water shortages are being reported, phone lines have been strained and liquefaction has returned.
Orion is working to restore power but many residents face a cold night, while rock falls in Sumner have forced people to evacuate their homes.
There was also a warning from a GNS Science seismologist on TV ONE's Close Up tonight that Christchurch will be hit by aftershocks for "years to come".
Schools in Christchurch are advised to remain closed tomorrow due to infrastructure issues and to allow assessment of school grounds and hospitals have suffered damage.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said there had been significant damage inside the Red Zone and that the area was a "mess".
Parker said a local state of emergency would not be activated. Police will have additional patrols in the eastern suburbs overnight, with support coming from the Army.
Did you feel the aftershocks? Tell ONE News about it. news@tvnz.co.nz Send your pictures to onlinenews@tvnz.co.nz or have your say on the messageboard below
The first major aftershock, which was centred 10 km south-east of Christchurch, measured 5.5 magnitude . As residents and the emergency services reacted to the shock of the tremor, a 6.0 aftershock struck at 2.20pm.
It was 9km deep and was centred 10km south-east of Christchurch, within 5km of Lyttelton. A short time later an aftershock measuring 4.9 hit at 2.40pm . It was one of nearly 20 today, with the latest coming at 9pm.
The major aftershocks were felt as far afield as Dunedin, the West Coast and Wellington.
Roads were soon clogged with traffic, Christchurch Airport was evacuated while safety concerns about a neighbouring building later forced Civil Defence to move from the art gallery to Cranmer Square.
Lyttelton's historic Timeball Station's tower collapsed while witnesses also reported parts of Godleys Head, above Taylor's Mistake, having collapsed.
Police have urged residents to check on friends and neighbours, and to stay at home and avoid travelling if possible.
Church rescue
Following the first quake, two people were rescued from St John's
Church in Latimer Square, but were not injured.
Police said a building on the corner of Stanmore and Worcester
St - believed to be a unit - also collapsed. It was
partially collapsed from a previous quake.
There were reports of one person possibly trapped, but this had not
been confirmed.
St John took six people to Christchurch Hospital with
moderately serious injuries. The injuries were a result of falling
building material.
Following the second quake there were about 40 people who were admitted to hospital, though none of the injuries were believed to be serious.
Two of the 46 patients treated today were seriously injured and remain in hospital tonight.
ONE News reporter Joy Reid said liquefaction has returned to the eastern suburbs and residents of Lytelton have told her the damage there is as bad as February.
Traffic problems, airport checks
Traffic was soon gridlocked in many parts of
the city after the 5.5 aftershock. As of 9.30pm the following
bridges remained closed: Gayhurst Rd; Bridge St; Martindales Rd
Railbridge; Old Waimakariri Bridge.
The NZ Transport Agency said tonight that all state highways in Christchurch were now open.
Christchurch Airport was evacuated while the terminal building and runways were checked after the first aftershock. The runway has since reopened, with Air New Zealand resuming its operations to and from the city, although delays were expected.
Vodafone said its mobile network in Canterbury was operational although 27 sites are operating on back-up power, 2 sites are operating just with 3G capacity and 7 sites are not operating at all.
Telecom said mobile networks are congested, and a number of fixed and mobile network sites are operating on backup power due to widespread mains power loss.
Telstra Clear is advising that it has lost power in 10 of its roadside cabinets and also telling people to keep the lines free.
Orion said tonight that power had been restored to Addington and Spreydon and that it had been restored to most of Riccarton, Ilam and Fendalton. Orion's website has details on the outages which are affecting areas.
Most of the affected residents are in the eastern suburbs including Sumner and Redcliffs. Those residents still without power are likely to remain off overnight, Orion said.
Shock for Crusaders
ONE News reporter Blair Norton said he was talking to the Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder at Rugby Park when the first quake hit.
"It came in waves across the ground at Rugby Park - it was shaking very violently," Norton said.
The Crusaders were inside at the time.
"The next thing out filed the Crusaders teammates with shocked looks on their faces, trying to get hold of loved ones on their phones."
Norton described it as a "very violent aftershock" that felt stronger than 5.5.
John Key reacts
Prime Minister John Key told a media conference it was early on and it was hard to know what damage had been caused.
"The major setback is in the confidence of people," he said.
Key said his "heart goes out to them".
The people of Christchurch were strong and "stoic" people who would re-group, he said.
Public health advice
In some parts of the city sewage pipes have broken and untreated sewage has mixed with liquefaction silt.
Canterbury District Health Board urged people to boil or treat water from taps before drinking, brushing teeth or using in food preparation.
Anyone in need of medical assistance is advised to contact their GP in the first instance. The 24 hour medical centre in Bealey Avenue, the after hours clinic in Moorhouse Avenue and the Riccarton Clinic are open after hours.
The city council said water had been restored to New Brighton and North Shore. However, Lyttelton was without water tonight with crews working to restore supplies.
The council advises residents with either a chemical toilet and portaloo to use them.
Students go home, hospitals damaged
Hundreds of school students across Christchurch left school for the day after the first aftershock struck in their lunch-hour, like the February quake. Many parents rushed to schools around the city to take their children home.
Reid said she was in Riccarton Mall when the quake hit. She tweeted: "Stuff fell off shelves. People crying. Everyone leaving".
She said she was standing under a glass ceiling the mall and
there was "nowhere to hide, no doorway, no table".
Feedback on Twitter from people in the region includes comments
like "Haven't had a 'proper' juddery quake like that for a while,
all the 5+ quakes since Feb have been rolling. It's like ABS
braking."
Some hospitals in Christchurch sustained minor damage in the quakes.
Burwood and Hilmorton Hospitals were without power and water this evening while Princess Margaret Hospital has water running down the inside of some parts of the building.
Christchurch Hospital is structurally fine and fully functioning, however all but the most urgent planned (elective) surgery has been postponed in the city tomorrow. This includes surgery planned for Christchurch Hospital, Burwood, Southern Cross and St George's Hospital.
Meanwhile, there will be some disruptions to New Zealand Post services in Christchurch tomorrow.
Postal deliveries tomorrow may be interrupted and deliveries will be subject to safe access for posties.
The quake comes on the same day as the inquest has begun into the calamitous events at the CTV building which collapsed on February 22.
See the full list of aftershocks.
Did you feel it? Tell ONE News about it. news@tvnz.co.nz Send your pictures to onlinenews@tvnz.co.nz Or you can have your say on the messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentinallhonesty said on 2011-06-18 @ 20:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
I understand the love for this city but our neighbours in Avondale are living in fear everyday. We left for Auckland. Not because we're not "staunch" enough or because we "betrayed" Christchurch. No we love our city. We lived in our home for 15 years, now it is destroyed and that is the reality. But now we want answers. What is going to happen to us? Is our land livable? Even if they tell us"you'll be alright", will we be?
Canian said on 2011-06-15 @ 05:21 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im in Canada and spent my first job in Wigram, later in Air Traffic SErvices andin the 80s worked in the CBD.In short I have a real affinaty to CHCH. I am sorry for what you are all going through and my heart goes out to you. Its incredible to have 3 shocks within 12 months and when I can find my son there somewhere he surley will have alot to talk about. Hang strong CHCH it a beutiful part of the world.
usleepIwork said on 2011-06-15 @ 01:54 NZDT: Report abusive post
Someone get some sense here and rebuilt Christchurch on firmer ground not where it is already. Admit defeat as Chruistchurch is never going to be stable again so lets look form to New Christchurch
mtv said on 2011-06-14 @ 23:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
My heart goes out to everybody in CH Ch! I am really sorry that you have to endure this time and again. Keep strong and safe. Kia Kaha
iburney said on 2011-06-14 @ 20:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
We will be great again Christchurch. As a community we are so so strong. We wrote this song for you so please listen and share. This was written for you, to give hope and strength especially now ! http://www.myspace.com/561697861/music/songs/Like-the-Phoenix-from-the-Ashes-wav-81864794