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The rate of aftershocks following Saturday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake appears to be lower than usual for a quake of that size, but people around damaged buildings in Canterbury should still be taking extreme care, says an expert.
The aftershocks could be big - within one order of magnitude of the
original quake - so there is still the chance of a magnitude 6 shake hitting the un-reinforced masonry around Christchurch and in surrounding towns of mid-Canterbury.
Nearly 100 aftershocks have hit so far, the biggest of them rating at magnitude 5.5, and some have come from different directions from the original shake.
"It is still possible that we'll have a magnitude 6 in the next week, and people ought to be aware of that, particularly if they are around structures which are already damaged," said the manager of the geohazards monitoring section which runs the GeoNet at GNS Science, Ken Gledhill.
"For a shallow earthquake like this, they will go on for weeks," Dr Gledhill told NZPA.
"And if a building is badly damaged, it won't take much shaking to push it over."
Government's response
Prime Minister John Key today said an estimated 100,000 homes were damaged by Saturday's 7.1-magnitude earthquake.
Mr Key said of the 160,000 homes in the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri areas, 100,000 could be damaged and some will be beyond repair.
Mr Key made the announcement at a press conference this afternoon, when it was announced the Government will give $5 million to the Mayoral Relief Fund for those affected by the quake.
Mr Key said the Mayoral fund has been set up for those not covered by social welfare. The fund, with the added help of the public and some banks, is now up to $6m.
The Government has set aside $94m cost for emergency works when the infrastructure repair and replacement bill for the area is properly estimated.
peaking after a three hour cabinet meeting this afternoon, Mr Key said he was "awe-struck" by the damage caused to the city where he grew up.
He said many homes and businesses will be covered by insurance and the Earthquake Commission (EQC) but those without insurance will be looked at on a "case by case basis".
"We have to be very careful in that situation. A very strong message needs to be sent to New Zealanders and that is: You need to have insurance," Mr Key said.
Mr Key said the EQC had already received 15,000 claims. He said three field offices will be opened in Christchurch, each with 40 staff.
Senior Cabinet Minister Gerry Brownlee has been appointed Minister for Earthquake Recovery and will be based in Christchurch.
Mr Key said the entire scope of the repair job is still not known.
He said the repairs will likely still be going on a year from now.
He also said he did not have any concerns about infrastructure in the region for next year's Rugby World Cup.
Local government elections in Christchurch would go ahead as scheduled and Mr Key would take his planned trip to Europe on Friday.
Radio station evacuated
This afternoon's 4.5 magnitude aftershock has pushed a number of damaged Christchurch buildings over the edge.
The 12-storey Radio Network-Newstalk ZB building in Worcester Street is one that officials have ordered be evacuated after the tremor at 12.35pm.
It had sustained some damage during Saturday's quake, and the aftershock has made some of the cracks worse.
Radio Network stations will continue to broadcast from back up facilities.
Lucky escape
Two people also escaped unharmed after running from an unstable brick building which showed signs of collapsing during the same strong aftershock this afternoon.
The owners of vintage store La Boutique, mother and son Rose and Myles Lennon, were in the brick building on the corner of Westminster and Cranford Streets that houses the shop and other retail outlets when a 4.5 magnitude aftershock hit at around 12.35pm.
Ms Lennon said she was in the shop "grabbing whatever I could" when the shaking began.
"I forgot everything else and just ran for it," she says.
"There were huge cracks down the walls and there was dust and water coming down. The whole place was shaking. It was scary."
Myles says "it was really, really intense. I had a real sense of urgency come over just to get out."
Emergency services were called to the scene and the building, in the suburb of St Albans, is now being destroyed.
Inspector John Price of Christchurch police said safety was paramount and people should steer clear of the building.
"Cordons may vary depending on the weather conditions and possible aftershocks. As civil engineers and USR teams move through the city, further buildings may be deemed to be at risk," he said.
Mr Price also issued a warning to the "small number of people interfering with taped off areas and removing safety cones.
"Removal prevents the protection and safety of everyone."
Demolition begins
Despite the aftershocks, contractors have begun tearing down dangerous buildings half destroyed in Saturday's 7.1 magnitude quake.
Diggers on Victoria and Bealey Street in the city are tearing down what is left of a two storey food market that used to stand opposite Knox Church.
Christchurch's Central Business District is still cordoned off but the extent of the cordon has been reduced overnight.
People are still being asked to stay away while assessments are done.
More than 500 buildings in the city are badly damaged, 90 significantly which may need to be demolished.
It's estimated around 3500 homes are still without power - 98 per cent of homes have had power restored.
Parts of CBD could be closed for weeks
Authorities say some parts of the Christchurch central business district could be off-limits for weeks until damaged buildings are demolished or declared safe.
Christchurch City Council staff are evaluating damage to buildings and colour-coding them - green for sound, red for dangerous, and yellow to indicate structural problems.
0800 helpline
The number of people calling the Government's helpline has more than doubled since yesterday afternoon, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.
More than 2500 people have now called the 0800779997 helpline set up to offer advice and referrals for other services.
Just over 1000 had called by yesterday afternoon.
Ms Bennett said five Work and Income offices were confirmed as safe and are open today in Christchurch to provide support.
Four other offices in Canterbury remained closed due to structural damage.
Benefit and superannuation payments will continue without disruption, Ms Bennett said.
* 500+ Buildings damaged
* 90+ CBD buildings damaged
* Estimated cost of damage: $2 billion
* Magnitude of Saturday's quake: 7.1
* 58 Aftershocks
* 245 Residents housed in welfare centres
* 15 per cent of Christchurch homes still without water
* 3500 homes still without power
* 300,000 litres of water transported to Christchurch by rail yesterday
* Distance of epicentre from Christchurch central: 40km
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
Map: Christchurch earthquake damage
KEY
Red markers: Aftershocks on Saturday
Blue markers: Aftershocks on Sunday
Yellow markers: Aftershocks today
View Christchurch earthquake: Where the land shook in a larger map
