Full press release from the The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management has activated the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) in monitoring mode in response to the Canterbury aftershocks.

National Controller, David Coetzee, said the response to the aftershocks is being managed from the Christchurch City council’s Emergency Operations Centre.

Mr Coetzee said the NCMC is gathering information to keep the Government informed and to be ready to co-ordinate central government support, should that be needed.

Unconfirmed reports are that:

• About 10 people have been reported injured and there have been no fatalities reported to date
• More buildings in the Christchurch central business have been damaged, with some collapsing, including some empty buildings in the Red Zone
• New Zealand Fire Service rescued two people who had been trapped in St John’s Church in Latimer Square
• There are no reports of more people being trapped
• There have been rock falls in Sumner
• Liquefaction in the Sumner and Bexley areas
• Police headquarters has been evacuated
• CERA has evacuated its offices.

– MCDEM