500-plus buildings damaged in quake

More than 500 buildings in Christchurch are damaged after the massive earthquake in Canterbury early yesterday morning, which caused billions of dollars of damage, cut water and power, and triggered large aftershocks.

Central Christchurch streets are piled with rubble, cordoned off and under curfew after the magnitude 7.1 quake, which hit at 7.35am. Buildings and infrastructure were damaged throughout the city and region, and strong winds forecast for today could cause more problems.

The Christchurch City Council said in a statement that of the 500 damaged buildings, more than 90 were in the central city area.

While there had been damage to minor bridges, major ones had withstood the quake. However, some roads had been closed due to liquefaction or flooding.

Some residents left their homes, taking shelter at three welfare centres set up in the city yesterday. The council reported about 50 people at Addington Raceway, 109 at Burnside High School, and 85 at Linwood College.

The centres would remain open as long as they were needed, and people were asked to take their own bedding and toiletries.

The central city would remain cordoned off and there would be no public access before Monday, with the exception of residents, the council said. People were urged to minimise travel.

The council's building evaluation team would inspect all buildings within the central zone, tagging red placards to buildings considered unsafe, yellow on buildings assigned restricted use, and green on buildings with no restrictions.

The council said it hoped to have the damage assessment completed today, and the yellow and green tagged buildings cleaned up on Monday.

Emergency centre staff would focus on the water supply today, which could still force evacuations in worst-hit areas such as Brighton, Brooklands and parts of Avonside.

Water supply had resumed for all but 15 to 20 percent, and the council said today's efforts would focus on the remaining areas.

There were more than 200 water leaks around the city, about half of which were significant, the council said.

Residents with water should flush toilets sparingly, portaloos had been provided and water tankers would be located around the city.

Power was back to 90 percent of the city, and would be restored in central Christchurch when buildings were checked.

Residents would face more challenges today, with northwesterlies expected to gust to 130kmh in exposed places.

Expected rain was also likely to create stormwater issues for the already stressed infrastructure, the council said.

Eighty police officers from Auckland would help with general duties and recovery, and an air force Hercules was flying to the city with 42 urban search and rescue personnel, and three dogs trained to search for human remains.