Christchurch earthquake: National emergency declared | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

The Government has declared a national state of emergency after yesterday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch.

At least 75 people have been confirmed dead in the earthquake, with the toll expected to rise significantly as the dead are found and identified. The earthquake has devastated the centre of Christchurch, destroying buildings and infrastructure in the city.

Cabinet met at 9.30am to decide whether to declare a national emergency.

Prime Minister John Key earlier said a national state of emergency would give central government more capacity to act.

"We have enormous faith in the leadership of Christchurch and we want to give them all the support we can."

He said the short term focus was on rescue and recovery, but it would quickly move to restoring core infrastructure and providing support for "a city that will effectively have to be rebuilt."

He said declaring a national state of emergency would reflect the size of the tragedy.

"If we did that we wouldn't be doing it because we don't have confidence in Christchurch's ability, it's just the scale of what we're dealing with."

What a national state of emergency entails

Declaring a national state of emergency is an option when a disaster or other event is or is likely to be of such severity that it is beyond the resources of the local Civil Defence groups.

It provides for a national resources to be marshalled to perform emergency functions and tasks such as:

• rescues
  * evacuations from dangerous areas and the closing off of buildings, homes and other premises, public places and roads.
  *setting up first aid posts
  *providing relief such as emergency food, clothing and shelter
  *regulating road, air and sea traffic
  *undertaking the emergency disposal of bodies

It also allows authorities to requisition any land, building, vehicle, animal, boat, equipment, construction materials, bedding, food and medical supplies considered necessary for the preservation of human life.

New Zealand flags are flying at half mast on all Government buildings today to honour the victims of yesterday's devastating aftershock in Christchurch.

Prime Minister John Key requested the flags on all public buildings be half-masted indefinitely in the wake of the 6.3 magnitude quake.

The gesture is intended as a mark of respect for those who have been killed, injured or left with damaged homes.

Bodies in the streets

Police nightshift commander Superintendent Russell Gibson this morning told Radio New Zealand there were scenes of "absolute carnage" in Christchurch CBD.

Last night Prime Minister John Key said the death toll was 65, but he today revised the official toll to 38 - and then 39. Civil Defence Director John Hamilton this morning said fatalities were only officially confirmed once bodies had been identified and next of kin informed. He would not provide an unofficial death toll.

Mr Gibson said the toll would rise.

"I know that the figure of 65 [dead] has been mentioned, I know that it will be significantly higher than that.

"There are bodies littering the streets they're trapped in cars, crushed under rubble, and where they are clearly deceased our focus unfortunately at this time has turned to the living," he said.

Hundreds of rescue workers had been working through the night systematically going door to door checking for survivors, Mr Gibson said.

He said bodies were "right through" the rubble but he believed about 30 people were pulled out alive overnight - mainly from the CTV and Pyne Gould buildings, where others are still believed to be trapped.

Rescuers were still receiving text messages and hearing trapped people tapping and there could easily still be more than 100 people trapped, Mr Gibson said.

Toll expected to rise

Superintendent Dave Cliff said he expected the number of confirmed fatalities to rise from 39.

Mr Cliff estimated there could be more than 100 people still trapped in CTV building.

He confirmed that there had been fatalities on a bus and said police would be able to release more details at an 11am media briefing.

A board member from the Crusaders was one of the people killed in the earthquake, chief executive Hamish Riach has revealed.

The Press reported that a woman with a baby in her arms died instantly when she was hit by falling debris in the earthquake. It was not known how badly hurt the baby was. Newstalk ZB said another baby was killed when a television fell on him.

St John Ambulance said two people were killed when hit by falling rocks while walking the Lyttelton's Crater Rim Track. They were believed to be the only victims from the Lyttelton area, which was severely damaged.

Infrastructure

Civil Defence said welfare centres had been busy overnight as had hospitals and medical facilities.

About 950 people spent the night at two welfare centres, at Hagley Park and Burnside High School, where blankets, food, sanitation were supplied.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says more welfare centres would be opened once buildings are declare safe to use.

"The advice is to stay at home if people can and to check on their neighbours and if they need any help or advice, call the Government helpline," says Ms Bennett.

The 0800 779997 helpline will operate 24 hours, providing information, advice and transferring calls through to other appropriate agencies.

"Financial assistance will also be made available to those who need it, we have the ability to provide Civil Defence emergency payments and other assistance is available," Ms Bennett said.

Telecommunications were patchy and many residents did not have drinking water.

Roger Sutton, CEO of Orion Power, said half the city was still without power but he hoped that by the end of today that 70-80 percent of the city would be back online.

Mayor Bob Parker told Breakfast at least six schools would be used as water distribution centres. Water tankers would be sent to them today for people to collect water from. The schools were Lyttelton, Redcliffs, South New Brighton, Shirley, Wainoni and Phillipstown. Steps were also under way to get food supplies in.

Mayor Parker urged people to stay at home, saying the city was effectively "closed" for at least the next three days.

He said portable toilets were being brought into the city to help ease the impact of waste water.

People with minor injuries were advised to go to smaller medical centres around the city rather than Christchurch Hospital, he said.

Christchurch Airport reopened for domestic flights this morning and it is expected the backlog will be cleared by the end of the day.

Christchurch International Airport will reopen for international flights this afternoon, with the first arrival expected at 3.20pm.

Check-in counters will open at midday, but airport chief executive Jim Boult said people should not come out to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking on an international flight.

Aftershocks continued to hit Christchurch overnight, the largest a 4.8 magnitude tremor 10km south-west of the city at a depth of 7km at 9.21pm.

There have been at least 11 more quakes over magnitude 4, with the latest a magnitude 3.6 struck at 10.10am, 10km east of Christchurch, GNS Science reported.

- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB