Buildings, roads and bridges have been damaged by the 7 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand on 4 September. (Reuters)
Rosemarie North, New Zealand Red Cross
At 4:35am on 4 September 2010, a 7 magnitude earthquake struck near the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The epicentre of the shallow quake was about 30km west of the city of Christchurch, population 340,000. Aftershocks continued throughout the province of Canterbury for several hours. This is being reported as the strongest quake in an urban area since 1931.
Official sources said damage was widespread throughout Christchurch, with electricity supplies cut to about half of the city. Residents are being urged to conserve water supplies. Most of the city’s sewage treatment plants and pumping stations are damaged. Homes and hotels may need to be evacuated. Roads and bridges have been damaged; Christchurch’s airport was closed. Two injuries were reported at that time, with no deaths.
At mid-morning Christchurch City Council declared a state of emergency. There were minor incidents of looting described by police as “opportunistic”. The central city was cordoned off while structural engineers checked the safety of buildings.
New Zealand Red Cross response
Two New Zealand Red Cross (NZRC) emergency management teams with 21 members are in action in Canterbury. Four experienced emergency staff and volunteers trained in light rescue, casualty handling, first aid and welfare used 4WD vehicles to look for people cut off in the countryside west of Christchurch, near the epicentre of the disaster.
Two members of the Red Cross Wanganui Response Team were deployed to Christchurch under an arrangement with the Fire Service. More volunteers from Nelson and Blenheim are on standby.
National Office in Wellington is monitoring and supporting operations in Christchurch.
Welfare
In coordination with other agencies, at 2pm, Red Cross staff and volunteers trained in welfare helped set up three welfare centres to advise and shelter people forced to move. NZRC also provided 500 blankets and toilet sets and registered people at welfare centres.
Communications
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.