A 5.1 magnitude aftershock hit Christchurch shortly before
8am today, causing more damage and another evacuation of the
city's central business district.
It was originally described as being of 6.1 magnitude, but
that was soon after downgraded. Because it was relatively
shallow, at 6km depth, and centred just 10km southeast of
Christchurch it was felt as the strongest aftershock in the
city since Saturday's 7.1 earthquake.
"My guts is just churning up here," Christchurch Mayor Bob
Parker said. "When will this thing end? It is like living in
a maelstrom.
• More hospital staff required
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is bringing in extra
staff to cope with an influx of patients following Saturday's
devastating earthquake.
Six health protection officers and six medical officers of
health are due to arrive in Christchurch on Saturday.
Cardiology nurses have been requested after a jump in the
number of patients requiring specialist cardiology care since
the 7.1 magnitude quake.
CDHB said it also needed general registered nurses to back up
staff across a range of services.
All non-urgent, elective surgeries were cancelled this week,
including all pre-arranged admissions to Christchurch,
Christchurch Women's' and Burwood Hospitals.
Outpatient clinics were cancelled today, but caesarean
sections and inductions went ahead as scheduled.
Maternity services saw an increase in the number of women
going into labour after a 5.1 magnitude aftershock today,
with 23 in labour by the afternoon.
Akaroa Hospital, Lincoln Maternity Hospital and the Burwood
Birthing Unit remained closed.
• Boil water notice lifted
The Emergency Operations Centre has lifted its restriction on
the boiling of water across the whole of Christchurch City,
including Banks Peninsula.
The lifting of restrictions follows three days' testing of
Christchurch's city water with more than five hundred samples
being carried out by council and public health staff. All
samples were clear of bacterial contamination.
Monitoring indicated that the integrity of the system was
maintained through this morning's aftershocks.
Ongoing testing will continue, and the Emergency Operations
Centre will advise if new restrictions are required.
• Bus services resume tomorrow
Bus services in Christchurch city will resume tomorrow
following further disruption this morning.
The Bus Exchange will open at 6am and services will run to a
normal weekday timetable. The two bus routes still out of
action are the 51 New Brighton to Tower Junction and 480 bus
to Kainga.
• Rock falls close road
Due to rock falls, Sumner Road, Lyttelton, will
be closed to the public from Oxford Street to Summit Road
until further notice, with access to essential traffic only.
• Hundreds still without power
All power has been restored to those customers who lost
supply due to the 7.49am after shock this morning.
Orion said in a statement this afternoon it had returned its
focus to its original target of restoring power to all
customers by the end of this week.
The company estimated several hundred households remained
without power, but it was difficult to give an exact number
as the number without power continued to fall.
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