New Zealand : #CHCH #EQNZ Quake Update 77

From New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence, excerpt :

" 1200hrs, 2 March 2011

Cordon management and accessPlans are progressing to allow people to retrieve vehicles abandoned within the CBD cordon after last week’s earthquake, and for limited access to some buildings.

Threats to personal safety remain the main reason behind the continuing restrictions on access through the cordon. However, Civil Defence is planning how to provide business owners and residents with limited supervised access to their property inside the cordon. For safety reasons, access will be for a strictly limited period and will be closely controlled. It will allow business owners to retrieve records and portable equipment, and let residents collect personal items. Owners of vehicles within the cordon may also be able to retrieve them, depending on where they are and whether they are undamaged.

This work will be done in stages, starting with the least affected areas in the CBD. Access will not be granted to areas where the greatest risk remains from unstable buildings, or where rescue and recovery efforts are still underway. Affected residents and business owners can expect to start hearing from authorities within the next 48 hours. More information at www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz.

Other developments

• The number of confirmed fatalities is 159.
• The identity of eleven of the deceased has been publicly released. See: http://www.police.govt.nz/list-deceased
• Approximately 240 people are reported as missing (unaccounted for) in the worst-damaged sites in the city. This number will include many, or all, of the fatalities.
• Temporary accommodation: Engineers are looking at areas of land suitable for temporary accommodation for displaced residents
• 66 per cent of water is back on across Christchurch."