No major damage from today’s big shock

Some inspected buildings will require reassessment but an initial check showed no substantial damage from the aftershocks of up to Magnitude 5.4 that hit the Christchurch area this morning, as the city has extended its State of Emergency by a week.

Civil Defence Director, John Hamilton said today, many aftershocks have occurred since the Magnitude 7.1 earthquake at 4.35am on Saturday and are expected to continue for the next week or more. The weather forecast through to Thursday is for cool conditions and patchy rain, returning to mainly fine conditions after Friday morning

The main focus for Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selwyn District Council continues to be building assessments in their respective areas. Some additional inspectors have been deployed to the region to assist. The Earthquake Commission has received over 27,000 claims for damage to residential properties but up to 100,000 claims may be lodged.

Pockets of electricity, water and sewerage systems remain out. Health concerns remain focused on water supply. All schools and early childhood centres are closed today. Some school boards may decide to open tomorrow, subject to structural engineers and/or health officials declaring the schools safe.

The 0800 Government helpline (0800 779 997) remains activated with some 6,900 calls received as at 7am today.

Public access to the Christchurch City and Kaiapoi cordon remains restricted under section 86 of the CDEM Act. Police will maintain the cordon in the CBD and Kaiapoi while the building risk remains.

The NZ Fire Service is back to ‘businessasusual’ operations. The NZ Defence Force continues to provide manpower and administration support to Police and is planning
to shift equipment and passengers into and out of Christchurch.

Cabinet has agreed to provide $5 million to a Joint Mayoral Relief Fund being established by Selwyn District Council, Christchurch City Council and Waimakariri District Council.

• Two welfare centres are open in Christchurch where 285 people stayed overnight One centre is open in the Waimakariri District. Two information centres are open today in Selwyn District (Rolleston and Darfield)
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• Cordons remain in Kaiapo and central Christchurch city, where it has been extended to include Worcester Street
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• GPs are seeing an increase in people presenting with stress and anxiety issues, gastroenteritis and repeat prescription
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• All 678 buildings in the CBD have been assessed. Sixtynine percent have been assessed as safe and others rated as either safe only for limited access or unsafe. The central business district of Kaiapoi is still being assessed with approximately 22 buildings still deemed too dangerous to enter. Demolitions are underway for some critical inner city buildings.

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