Red Cross Emergency Teams in Action After Quake

Two New Zealand Red Cross emergency management teams with 21 members are in action in Canterbury after a 7.1 earthquake hit the region at 430am today, causing widespread damage.

Four experienced emergency staff and volunteers trained in light rescue, casualty handling, first aid and welfare are using 4WD vehicles to look for people cut off in the countryside west of Christchurch, near the epicentre of the disaster.

New Zealand Red Cross National Programmes Manager David Neal said, “We have heard reports of people cut off in Darfield by the quake so our teams are making sure everyone is OK. We are working in liaison with local councils, Civil Defence and other agencies.”

Two members of the Red Cross Wanganui Response Team have also been deployed to Christchurch under an arrangement with the Fire Service. More volunteers from Nelson and Blenheim are on standby.

Mr Neal said, “In Christchurch, our major concern is welfare. Most of the city’s sewage treatment plants and pumping stations are damaged, and homes may need to be evacuated. Red Cross volunteers trained in welfare are standing by to help with a large metropolitan welfare centre to advise and accommodate people forced to move.”

Red Cross disaster specialists have set up a portable repeater station on the Port Hills to provide VHF communications because electricity and landlines are not dependable.

ENDS

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