7.1 earthquake: Aftershocks shake Christchurch
BY STUFF REPORTERS
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LATEST: Police have cordoned off a major central Christchurch intersection after debris began to fall following a strong aftershock.
Christchurch continues to be rocked by aftershocks, including a magnitude 4.5 jolt just after 12.30, as the city remains in a state of emergency after Saturday's destructive quake.
Police this afternoon ordered a couple out of a block of shops on the corner of Westminster and Cranford Street in St Albans because of falling debris. The building is set to be demolished this afternoon.
Teams are today assessing building damage and care services are supporting those affected in the damaged city, while in Wellington Cabinet has convened to discuss the Government's response.
The state of emergency was due to be lifted at 12pm today, but by extending it to midday Wednesday, the council has more power over access to the central city.
St John Ambulance volunteers are working around the clock and more than 2500 people have phoned a 24 hour earthquake helpline.
By 12.30pm today, the Red Cross had received pledges of $1.4 million and cash donations of $35,500 for the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal.
A Christchurch Airport spokesman said that reports that the 4.5 aftershock cut power to the airport were incorrect and told people "not to panic".
CABINET MEETING
In Wellington, Civil Defence Minister John Carter took up a seat next to Prime Minister John Key before the meeting got underway this morning.
Key is expected to outline any decisions at his post-Cabinet press conference this afternoon.
Key said last night that central government would look at where it could step in to fix local infrastructure, such as rail, road and water, that was usually funded by local government.
"We can't expect them to pick up that tab twice."
Police and army resources would also be considered.
Key said Cabinet would also appoint a civil defence commissioner to oversee reconstruction and aid. "This isn't a short-term thing."
The Earthquake Commission expects claims from at least 100,000 households to cost $1b.
The Government will have to decide if it gives help to people without insurance, which Mr Key said was "a moral hazard".
Providing assistance to those people would discourage others from buying policies. But not helping could leave people in "financial hardship".
Key said he was pleased at how Civil Defence had responded to the emergency.
Civil defence planners warned, however, that many people in the country were without adequate emergency kits or plans, and some households risked significant financial hardship after a natural disaster because they were uninsured.
HEALTH WARNINGS
Health Minister Tony Ryall is urging earthquake hit Cantabrians to heed public health messages.
Ryall said a team of health specialists was arriving in Christchurch today.
A water sanitation specialist engineer had flown in this morning to help assess damage and work on remediation. A medical officer of health and five health protection officers had also arrived and would stay until Thursday. Six defence force personnel specialising in environmental health would also arrive in Christchurch today.
Mr Ryall said people should carefully heed public health messages, including:
* Boil water for three minutes before drinking, brushing teeth or washing/preparing food.
* Use as little water as possible to flush your toilet if you have water.
* Remember hand washing stops diseases spreading.
* Look after each other - keep in touch with families, friends and neighbours and support each other.
* Avoid contact with sewage. Don't gather fish or shellfish in the sea or from Canterbury rivers.
* If you are unwell with a minor injury or illness and need medical assistance call your General Practice or nearest after hours surgery.
Ryall said people should go to the Emergency Department in an emergency only.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Environment Canterbury pollution prevention manager Don Chittock said people going in to business premises this morning were discovering spills of hazardous substances.
About half a dozen spills had been dealt with already.
The major concern was hazardous substances leaking into groundwater supplies or into stormwater systems.
"Contain it on site, if you can," he said.
Significant spills should be reported to the Fire Service and smaller discharges to ECan's pollution hotline on (03) 366 4663 or 0800 765 588.
SUPPORT SERVICES
St John Ambulance volunteers are working around the clock to support those affected.
Around 85 St John ambulance and events staff have been volunteering their services.
They are working three shifts to support the people at the three welfare centres around the quake-stricken city.
Much of the ruined city remains cordoned off this morning, while search and rescue teams assess buildings for damage.
St John regional operations manager Chris Haines said volunteers had freely given their time and many of them had suffered damage to their own homes.
"The earthquake has shown the strength of the St John family. It's been great to see so many people pulling together and working through what is a very difficult and uncomfortable situation for all," Mr Haines said.
More than 2500 people have phoned a 24 hour earthquake helpline, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said.
Five Work and Income offices in Christchurch are confirmed safe and will open today to provide emergency support, she said. The helpline number is 0800 77 9997.
Last night, more that 200 people sought refuge in welfare centres set up across the region, with the Linwood welfare centre hosting around 90 people overnight; Addington another 90, and Burnside hosted 20 people.
A shelter was also set up in Kaiapoi, at Kaiapoi North School after 150 people were evactuated from the Riverlands Motor Camp at Waimakariri for fear of flooding.
EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
Many people would be in a state of shock as they dealt with the practicalities of making their homes safe and restored water and power, said Joint Centre for Disaster at Massey University director David Johnston.
"But some of these issues can manifest themselves in the weeks and months to follow and there will be a lot of people who will need a lot of support."
Dr Johnston said most people would get over the trauma but some would need professional help.
"That could be a significant number in a large population. But time will be the cure of it for most."
He said the amount of support needed varied.
"Some people like to talk about this, some people don't."
For some it was enough to know a neighbour, friend or relative had offered help.
"The key thing is to let people deal with it in the way that suits them. So often it is not about making people sit down and talk about it, it is just being around and giving them support."
FLOOD THREAT
Canterbury was spared the worst from wild weather overnight but the region could still be hit by floods from rising rivers.
Emergency services, councils and other agencies were yesterday called to "numerous instances" of felled trees and power lines, some of which knocked out power and blocked roads, as high winds hammered the region in the wake of Saturday's pre-dawn magnitude 7.1 earthquake.
The weather overnight was not as severe as authorities feared, but flooding could yet hit the region as stopbanks weakened by the quake may not be able to withstand rising waters.
Civil Defence said the Waimakariri River could burst its stopbanks today if it continued to rise at the expected rate.
Engineers would this morning inspect the stopbanks.
Canterbury also continues to be rocked by aftershocks, with dozens of quakes of up to 4.8 magnitude striking overnight.
CBD OFF LIMITS
Inner-city Christchurch remains off-limits to an estimated 50,000 workers today and the city's mayor has warned it could be months before life returns to normal.
Public buildings such as the central library and Christ Church Cathedral will remain shut.
Engineers spent most of yesterday condemning many buildings as unsafe and ordering their demolition.
The Christchurch City Council's newly opened headquarters in Hereford St will remain closed until September 14. Other council service centres will remain closed, as will libraries and swimming pools until they have been structurally assessed.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said workers based inside the cordoned area should not go to work.
Council staff had not yet inspected other buildings outside that zone. Employers had to take personal responsibility and decide if their staff could return.
"We don't want employees coming into the CBD. That area is closed to the public because it is a dangerous area."
Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury's medical officer of health, said no building owners should allow staff or the public to enter shops or workplaces until they had been cleared by a structural engineer. "The message for people is if in doubt, stay out."
Schools, except for those in Rangiora, and all city buses will not operate until at least Wednesday and Parker said there would be "a significant amount of disruption to public life".
Parker praised the efforts of workers and volunteers and said it was a miracle no-one had been killed.
"This has been the most extraordinary, miraculous event. It is unbelievable we have been spared that."
One person remained in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit with serious injuries after being hit by falling debris. According to the Civil Defence website, about 100 people were treated at the hospital on Saturday with earthquake-related injuries.
But the scale of the disaster was "enormous" and residents needed to understand things would not return to normal for "a significant amount of time".
"This was a moment of intense violence that ripped apart a community in 60 seconds. Yesterday (on Saturday) we were glad to be alive. Today (yesterday) we are worried about our lives."
Police said there had been two incidents where "known criminals" impersonated tradesmen to enter the cordon area.
- with The Press, Dominion Post and NZPA
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