Christchurch Police urge commuters to be patient and careful as they travel around the city's roads following a series of earthquake aftershocks in the last 24 hours.
Police had no immediate reports of damage following the 4.7 magnitude aftershock at 2.48am today. However, there was significant building and road damage including liquefaction throughout the city and some flooding after yesterday's 5.5 and 6.0 aftershocks at 1pm and 2.20pm.
Superintendent Dave Cliff, Christchurch District Commander, said that it's expected that other damage will only become apparent once it's light.
Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are urged to be careful as liquefaction, surface flooding and potholes is likely to add to commuter congestion this morning. Schools are closed today and police ask other people to minimise their travel as much as possible to ensure infrastructure damage assessments can be done and repairs made.
"We're really pleased that Christchurch residents took notice of safety advice and stayed at home or with friends overnight. It's the response that we expect from our community. We're all in this together.
"People have been remarkably calm and rational and we hope this continues despite the stresses everyone is under."
Initial reports indicate that 50 buildings could need to be demolished and many of these were ones that were hit in the earlier earthquakes.
"The falling masonry, bricks and building facades that happened yesterday could have been so much worse if people had been in the CBD at the time. It's really validated the importance of why areas remain cordoned off because of the risk they impose.
"Safety is our top priority," Superintendent Cliff said.
The high tide at 2.30am today didn't require police to assist with any evacuations, although some low lying streets, especially in the eastern suburbs and riverside areas had some surface flooding and liquefaction.
There are rockfalls in the Sumner, Redcliffs, Taylors Mistake and Morgan Valley areas, and police patrols reported several boulders and other debris on streets.
High visibility police response and reassurance patrols - assisted by 30 soldiers from the 2nd/1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - reported an uneventful night. The patrols spent a lot of time in the eastern suburbs, including New Brighton, Sumner, Bexley and Avonside areas.
Christchurch police officers continue to provide the day to day response and investigative functions, assisted by 140 out of district officers who staff the reassurance patrols.
Roads closed today are:
• Clifton Road - Main Road , Tuaware
• Wakefield St Wiggins - Dryden
• New Brighton Road Avondale - East direction along river
• Taylors Mistake Road and Evans Pass Road
• At Sumnervale (upper) - Lyttelton
• Cunningham Terrace
• Ticehurst road
• Ross Terrace
• Heberden Ave
• Oceanview Tce
Bridges closed include:
• Gayhurst Rd
• Old Waimakariri Bridge
All other bridges are open. Bridge St, South Brighton is open to light traffic only.
Ends
Kaye Calder
Christchurch Police Media
Mobile: 027 241 6305