Water supply and distribution

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Damage to the water supply system means there will not be enough water to meet demand in the coming days.

The water supply is on in the western side of the city but not the eastern side. There is no drinking water and no fire pressure.

Throughout the day, delivery of drinking water is expected at primary schools in Christchurch. Lyttelton Main and Phillipstown schools have already got their water tanks. Water tankers are on their way to:

• Diamond Harbour petrol station
• Governors Bay Primary School
• Lyttelton West School
• Six water trucks are on their way from Auckland with water supplies.

Wastewater

The treatment station at Bromley is out of service and raw sewage is going into the estuary.

Roads and bridges

There is some significant damage to roads and major liquefaction across the city.

Inspections for bridges on key routes were carried out overnight. Some are stable, others are damaged. By the end of today, four bridge inspection teams will be on the ground with more to come.

The Bridge Street bridge in South Brighton has serious damage and is not expected to be open for several weeks. Council are trying to get the Gayhurst Bridge open today. Meanwhile crews have begun fixing damage to roads across the city.

Inspections and Assessment

While the priority remains the CBD and saving lives, Council is also getting underway an assessment of damage in the suburbs.

Search and Rescue

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are assembling on the ground. Extra teams are arriving soon from Australia, with more expected from other countries.

Cordons

Building owners and residents are not allowed to enter the CBD until further notice. Anyone wanting to do so must go to the corner of Bealey Ave and Park Terrace for instructions.

Police and Army are handling cordons in the CBD.