Quake: Latest info

LATEST: 8.04pm: The Kaiapoi welfare centre has moved to the Kaiapoi Ruby Football Club rooms in Smith Street. Waimakariri District welfare centres have been closed at night due to lack of demand, the council says. If people require welfare services, they can contact the council prior to 6pm by phoning 313 8900.

7.10pm: Christchurch hospitals have cancelled most non-urgent, elective surgeries this week. Canterbury District Health Board said it would contact patients with pre-arranged admissions for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Christchurch, Christchurch Women's and Burwood Hospitals. Caesarean sections and inductions would continue as planned, and outpatient clinics were still operating as normal.

5.47pm: Bus and ferry services resumed in quake-damaged Christchurch today. Bus services were still working around the central city cordon and were likely to deviate from normal routes.

4.42pm: Rolleston Community Centre is now active as a Welfare Centre for all Selwyn Residents. The Community Centre is at 94 Rolleston Drive. Additional Welfare Centres will be opened in other locations around the district in the next 24 hours. The council is also running a Call Centre.  Phone 03 347 2800 or 03 318 8338.

3.57pm: All schools - pre-school, primary and secondary - closed in Christchurch, Selwyn and Kaiapoi areas until next week.

2.15pm: A number of roads and bridges in the Canterbury region are still out of action, including roads in Akaroa, Bexley and Lyttleton. For information on State Highway closures, visit the NZ Transport Agency website.

1.51pm: The Government's crisis management centre says Canterbury faces aftershocks of up to magnitude 6 for the next week.

1:15pm: A website has been set up to help Canterbury residents access services and keep informed in the aftermath of Saturdays major quake.

www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz contains information from councils, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, the Ministry of Social Development, Environment Canterbury, The Ministry of Health and Canterbury District Health Board, EQC and ACC, Metrolink and others.

1pm: Two heritage buildings will be demolished later this afternoon. A category one Historic Places Trust building, the former New Zealand Express Company Building, will be pulled down. Cecil House on Manchester St will also be demolished.

12.39pm: Red Cross requests that people wanting to donate goods to those affected by the earthquake are requested to make cash donations instead.

Managing goods during a response to and recovery form from a civil defence emergency can be difficult and divert essential resources. It is also logistically easier to use cash donations to obtain the goods required. www.redcross.org.nz

12.30pm: Orion advises that about 2000 homes are still to regain power.Between 400 and 500 staff and contractors were working long hours to reconnect the homes. Orion asks people to treat all power lines as live and asked that people remember to disconnect the power before demolishing any building.

Meanwhile, council staff are working to restore the water supply and wastewater infrastructure. There are 60 streets where water mains are shut off affecting all or part of the street

12.20pm: Police have moved one of the access points to the Christchurch central business district restricted zone.

The checkpoint on the corner of Cashel and Madras streets has been relocated to the Manchester and Worcester street corners because of a building being further destabilised by ongoing aftershocks.

11.45am: GNS Science said this morning that aftershocks are likely to continue for some weeks, becoming less frequent throughout that time.

The shocks since the 7.1 earthquake on Saturday are following a normal pattern.

With the continuing aftershocks, people should be very careful about being in or near damaged buildings, because further damage could be caused, scientists say.

10am: Canterbury District Health Board says almost 200 rest home residents in Canterbury will be relocated due to damaged buildings and on-going problems with water supply.

9.45am: Rail services are disrupted following the aftershocks. Rising river levels mean a section of the Main North Line near Kaiapoi remained closed. A "road bridging" service at Rangiora continues to ensure freight off trains coming from the North Island can be delivered into Christchurch. The TranzCoastal (Christchurch - Picton) and TranzAlpine (Christchurch - Greymouth) passenger services are expected to resume tomorrow.

9.32am: Prime Minister John Key cancels his trip to the United Kingdom where he was to meet the Queen at her country estate in Balmoral for a private visit. Mr Key said a number of aftershocks over night had changed his mind about going to Europe.

9.10am: Police reduce the cordon area in central Christchurch. The restricted access area is now bounded by Colombo, Worcester, Madras and St Asaph Streets.

9am: Corrections says prisoners will be moved out of Christchurch Women's and Christchurch Men's Prison on special flights "to relieve pressure on emergency services".

8am: Cordons in Cathedral Square and Colombo Street relaxed. Some of the CBD will remain shut due to the strength of the aftershocks and fears for public safety.

The area that remains cordoned off is bounded by Worcester St, St Asaph St, Colombo St (with the side streets to its east remaining out of bounds) and Madras St.

7.50am: Airport domestic terminal is re-opened after its closure overnight due to cracks in building. Delays expected. http://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/

7.30am: Christchurch City Council says Metro bus services are operating and will be dropping passengers as close to the cordon in Christchurch CBD as possible today.
 
Drop off points will be along Moorhouse Avenue, Madras Street, Durham Street and Montreal Street.
 
However, the situation in the city may change, and as a result, the location of the dropping-off points may change.
 
People need to check if they can enter the cordon before travelling and for updates and further information go to www.metroinfo.co.nz

TUESDAY 6am: Christchurch airport domestic terminal closed after cracks appeared in the building. Some flights are re-directed through the international terminal.

Overnight Monday: The latest in a series of more than 100 aftershocks since Saturday morning's destructive 7.1 earthquake hit Christchurch. The largest were two magnitude 5.4 tremors.

8:12pm: Christchurch jury trials have again been postponed, despite the court complex being undamaged and outside the central city cordon.

Ministry of Justice media adviser Steve Corbett said tomorrow's jury trials would be postponed as many jurors were likely to be unavailable.

The ministry would make decisions on proceedings "day by day" so potential jurors should check the jury phone line regularly, he said.

All disputes and tenancy tribunal cases were also postponed.

6:07pm: The Midland railway line that connects Christchurch and the Port of Lyttelton to the West Coast reopened to rail freight traffic this afternoon following completion of track repairs, inspection of bridges and the successful running of a test train.

4:15pm: Residents in parts of the Christchurch suburb of Bexley are moving out this afternoon as their houses have been deemed unfit for habitation.

2pm: Police have cordoned off Westminster and Cranford streets, Christchurch, and are asking the public not to enter the area because of falling debris.

Cordons may vary depending on the weather conditions and possible aftershocks. As civil engineers and Urban Search and Rescue teams move through the city, further buildings may be deemed to be at risk.

Inspector John Price said safety is paramount: "Unfortunately it appear as though a small number of people are interfering with taped off areas and removing safety cones. They are there to ensure people know what areas still pose a danger. Removal prevents the protection and safety of everyone."

12.30pm: Cabinet has convened to talk about the Government's response to the Christchurch quake. Civil Defence Minister John Carter took up a seat next to Prime Minister John Key before the meeting got under way this morning. Key is expected to outline any decisions at his post-Cabinet press conference this afternoon.

11.30am: Five Work and Income offices in Christchurch are confirmed safe and will open today to provide emergency support.

They are: Linwood, Hornby, Riccarton, New Brighton and Shirley. Work and Income sites at Papanui, Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Sydenham remain closed, as well as CYF's Torren house. 

More than 2500 people have phoned the department's 24 hour earthquake helpline. The helpline number is 0800 779 997.

Staff are working to call 16,000 elderly people in the area to see if they need help. So far they have reached 10,000.

9.45am:  Police ask anyone wanting access to the centre of Christchurch City to use one ot two checkpoints. The first is at the corner of St Asaph and Colombo Streets, and the second at the corner of Colombo and Armagh Streets. No other checkpoints will be allowing access. Police are asking the public not put extra pressure on staff at other checkpoints and to have patience.

8am: Metro bus services are still suspended.

7.30am: Met Service predicts gusty northwesterlies in Christchruch will die down this afternoon giving way to cooler southerlies and patchy light rain this evening.

7.15am: Civil Defence warns upwards of 200mm of heavy north-west rain fell along the Alpine Divide yesterday.

The major alpine rivers of Canterbury will rise sharply during the day and evening. People should keep clear of the beds of these rivers throughout the day.

In particular, because of earthquake damage, people should keep clear of the stopbanks of the Waimakariri River below SH1 and the Kaiapoi stopbanks on the west side in the vicinity of Courtenay Stream and also above the Williams Street Bridge on the south side.

River engineers are working with Civil Defence at regional and local level.

7am: 12-hour curfew covering the centre of Christchurch lifted. It was the second night that police have maintained a lockdown of the central business district.

MONDAY 6am: State of emergency extended in Christchurch until Wednesday.

200 people stayed at welfare centres last night. Linwood welfare centre hosted around 90 people overnight; Addington another 90, and Burnside hosted 20 people

There are around 60 streets where water mains are still shut off - affecting all or part of the street. The focus is now on restoring those and improving the overall reliability and pressure in the water supply.

11.50pm: The Christchurch City Council advises residents that their rubbish will continue to be collected as usual in most areas of the city.

The exception is cordoned-off areas in New Brighton where residents are asked to take their bins to the end of the street.

11pm: The earlier notice that all public buildings will closed until an engineer's inspection is completed is withdrawn. It was recognised that some businesses provide essential services.

10.30pm: The Old Waimakariri Bridge, Main North Road, is closed until further notice.

10pm: Motorists are urged to take extreme care on roads from South to North Canterbury due to the stormy, windy weather conditions being experienced across the region.

Police, Fire, Councils and other agencies were responding to numerous instances of trees and power poles being blown onto roads, in some cases completely blocking roads and knocking out power.

9.30pm: Christchurch city council warns the city bound lane on Harper Ave between Fendalton Road and Helmores Lane will be closed until further notice due to a substantial crack in the road.

City-bound traffic is advised to turn into Deans Avenue from Fendalton Rd.

The road from the Sign of the Kiwi to Governor's Bay is also closed because boulders have fallen on to the road.

9pm: 4164 householders already lodged claims with the Earthquake Commission, and the total is predicted to rise to at least 100,000.

8.30: About 150 people were evacuated from the Riverlands holiday park, south of Kaiapoi, on Sunday because of fears the Waimakariri River could breach its banks.

8.20pm: Civil Defence warns if people to take action if they discover your hazardous substances or tanks have been ruptured.

Major spills need to be notified to the Fire Service immediately otherwise notify Environment Canterbury. Contain spills if you have adequate material to do so, and hold these on your site, remember safety comes first.

8pm: Donations to relief funds begin to roll in. The ASB, ANZ and Westpac banks have all opened accounts to which people can donate.ANZ Bank, Westpac and Fonterra have each given $1 million.

3.13pm: The Canterbury Disctrict Health Board says extensive damage to underground sewerage and water systems has the potential to cause major public health issues for residents.

Councils in affected areas are working hard to re-establish services, checking structures and water safety.

In the meantime, people need to take the following advice to avoid getting sick with stomach bugs and other illnesses.

People living in the Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn districts should assume at the moment that tap water is unsafe and contaminated.

Avoid contact with sewage. Use as little water as possible to flush your toilet if you have water.  If you don't have water, make a temporary toilet with a bin lined with two plastic  bags.

2.17pm:  The Canterbury SPCA asks those forced to evacuate with animals to first take them to Christchurch City Council Animal Control in Bromley before going to a welfare centre.

Cats should be in a cage and dogs on a lead. Animal control will arrange for their care.

The number for emergency animal welfare incidents is 03 366-3886.

If anyone has lost an animal for more than 24 hours they should call SPCA Track-A-Pet line on 0900 56-787. 

If anyone finds a stray dog they should call Christchurch City Council Animal Control.

If anyone finds a stray cat, provided it is not injured, they should leave it alone and not feed it. 

If the cat is still around in a few days they should take it to the SPCA in Hornby.

1.55pm: It may be two to three days before power can be restored to some houses. In extreme cases, where a single home or business is still without power in an area where power has otherwise been restored, it may up to five days. Orion is currently focusing on Avonside, Brighton and Halswell, as well as rural areas around Highfield, Greendale and Brookside.

1.32pm: The University of Canterbury confirms it will remain closed until the September 13, however the halls of residence will not close.

1.04pm: The biggest aftershocks since yesterday's 7.1 magnitute earthquake felt in Christchurch. The shock measured 5.0 on the richter scale, and hit 20km north-east of Leeston.

12.02pm: InterCity Coachlines advises services into and out of Christchurch are operating as normal, however due to inner city cordons, all services will operate from the Christchurch Town Hall at 86 Kilmore St (not from the normal location at 123 Worcester Street) until further notice.

11.30am: Ministry of Education confirms school closures for Monday 6 September - Kaiapoi Borough School, West Melton School and Hillmorton High.

11.23am: Canterbury District Health Board advises two birthing units will remain closed.

Lincoln Maternity Hospital and Burwood Birthing Unit will be shut until further notice.

Women who were intending to give birth at the units prior to the earthquake should go to Christchurch Women's Hospital.

11am: Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selwyn District Council are currently still assessing damage in their own areas.

10.30am: The Earthquake Commission has so far received approximately 2800 claims for damage to homes.

9am: Twenty-five teams from the city council's building evaluation team being to move through the cordoned off area of the central city, inspecting all buildings within this zone. 

Each building will be tagged after it has been inspected - with red placards assigned where buildings are considered unsafe and can not be entered; yellow placards assigned where restricted use is permitted; and green placards assigned where there are no restrictions on a building's use. 

It is hoped that this process can be completed for all buildings within the cordoned off area by the end of the day today. 

Once this information is available, yellow and green placarded buildings will be able to be cleaned up on Monday. 

8.55am: Weather analyst Richard Green told Newstalk ZB the Canterbury region is set to face norwesterly winds between 60 and 130 kilometres an hour.

Winds of up to 80 kmh have been measured near the epicentre of the earthquake in Darfield.

7am: Curfew on the centre city in Christchurch lifted.

However, the cordon is still in place in the area bounded by Madras, St Asaph, Montreal and Kilmore Streets.

There will be no public access to the cordoned central city area before Monday - with the exception of residents. 

SUNDAY 6am: Residents are advised not to use open fires because of the risk of further aftershocks that could damage chimneys. 

There have already been more than 30 significant aftershocks in the city since the major quake yesterday morning (recording magnitudes of up to 5.4) and these could continue for several weeks.

These aftershocks could cause further damage to already weakened structures and buildings, or could cause fresh damage.

Rolleston Community Centre is now active as a Welfare Centre for all Selwyn Residents.

 

At this location people can find further information and support.

 

The Community Centre is located at 94 Rolleston Drive.

 

Additional Welfare Centres will be opened in other locations around the District in the next 24 hours.

 

The council is also running a Call Centre.  Phone 03 347 2800 or 03 318 8338.

- © Fairfax NZ News