Christchurch earthquake toll climbs to 113, hundreds still missing
- Herald Sun, AAP
- February 25, 2011
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- DFAT hotline: 1300 555 135
- Pictures: Faces of the Christchurch quake
- Special report: Earthquake rocks Christchurch
UPDATE 12.07pm: HEAVY rain and a cold southerly wind has ramped up tension among those working inside police cordons in Christchurch's devastated central business district.
At the civil defence centre, strain was showing on the faces of hundreds of rescue and welfare personnel who have been working long hours since Tuesday's quake to find survivors among the rubble.
They have not been rewarded for their efforts since the last live rescue at 3pm on Wednesday.
One worker, Mary Leeder, wiped tears away as she talked about going back in.
"I know it's best, it has to be done, but I'm starting to hate this. I just want to get out of here," she said, pulling on her wet weather gear.
In the heart of the CBD, workers face the grim task of scouring every building looking for bodies and hoping for that miracle - a survivor.
The effort aside, the area, about one kilometre in diameter, remains eerily quiet.
Huge department store, cafes, small shops, galleries, council chambers and majestic villas sit vacant, their owners obeying police orders to stay away.
"It's hard to comprehend the grief they will feel when they are finally able to return," the city's mayor Bob Parker said.
"This is their city but not as they know it."
As the death toll from the quake rose to 113, reports of looting and violence were also on the rise.
When 300 Australian police touch down in the city today their main task will be to bring rising rates of theft and domestic violence under control.
They may even be arresting their own, with reports at least two Australians have been presenting themselves to the fire service as both search and rescue staff and disaster victim identification personnel.
Canterbury Police nightshift supervisor Superintendent Russell Gibson said such opportunists were the "lowest of the low".
"We've had more and more reports of people with pseudo professional clothing, clipboards, vests and hard hats going door to door asking about appliances inside," the officer said.
"When they've been approached they haven't passed muster and they've disappeared.
"I can only surmise that those people are there with dishonourable intentions.
He urged locals to demand to see identification, saying: "For goodness sake, check who they are, who they're working for and why they're there."
He said the Australian police would bring welcome relief for overworked local cops.
"We'll be deploying them straight into the suburbs first thing tomorrow morning to try to bring this situation under control," Supt Gibson said.
More than one hundred Victorian police officers flew to New Zealand this morning.
Speaking before the 116 officers flew out, Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said they wouldn’t know what they were facing until they arrived.
"I guess in some ways you know what you’re going into, but in other ways you don’t. It’s not until you hit the ground that you will understand the enormity of what you’re going to confront,” he said.
“It’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be trying, particularly as you are the first contingent.”
Premier Ted Baillieu told the officers they were going to help Victoria’s family in New Zealand.
“We are enormously proud of what you’re doing and this is an exercise in family helping family,” he said.
“Look after each other, there’s an enormous job to do and obviously in very dangerous circumstances.”
In the contingent sent to New Zealand there are 100 general duties officers and 16 command and support staff.
The officers will be in Christchurch for two weeks, Mr Overland said, and it is unknown how many other Victorian officers will be required to fly to New Zealand in the coming days and weeks.
Supt Gibson said looting in vacant homes was becoming a significant problem, with a few arrests made and many more to come.
There had also been a spike in domestic violence similar to one seen after the first quake that hit on September 4.
Supt Gibson said suicides were expected to rise.
"We haven't seen that yet. We really hope Christchurch residents don't let it get that bad," he said.
No one has been pulled alive from any building since Wednesday afternoon, highlighting the challenges faced by rescuers.
Christchurch police commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said 113 bodies were being held in a temporary morgue in the city.
He was unable to identify any more victims this morning, saying the process of identification was slow.
Officials said the city is not running out of food or fuel and people should not try to stockpile supplies.
Water connections are now up over the 50 per cent mark while bottled water is being used for emergency supplies following Tuesday's devastating earthquake, the city's mayor Bob Parker said.
Civil Defence chief John Hamilton said the urban search and rescue operation was continuing, while getting resources to the city's population remained the priority of authorities.
New Zealand Civil Defence Minister John Carter today cast further doubt on the possibility of finding other survivors.
"We are still hopeful there will be people rescued but it is becoming unlikely," he said.
*ANYONE with personal problems can contact Lifeline on 131 114, Mensline Australia on 1300 789 978, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or the Victorian Statewide Suicide Helpline on 1300 651 251.
- John Ferguson, Anne Wright, Tamara McLean
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