New Zealand prime minister John Key flew to Christchurch on Tuesday, where he reiterated the government was “totally committed” to rebuilding the shattered city but acknowledged the latest quakes were a “major setback”.
As scientists predicted that aftershocks will continue to rock the city, another clean-up is underway after Monday’s severe after-shocks.
New Zealand’s southern city was hit by two powerful shocks – a 5.5-magnitude at 1pm local time followed by a 6.0 jolt at 2.20pm.
About 45 people suffered injuries, 50 buildings were destroyed, and liquefaction again filled many streets, blocking roads and damaging cars.
Many more homes have been damaged beyond repair.
The psychological toll has been enormous and many Christchurch residents are expected to join the permanent exodus from the city.
The latest incidents followed the February 22 horror, when a 6.3-magnitude quake struck, killing 181 people, damaging 100,000 homes and ruining the Christchurch CBD.
“A lot of people have lost the plot here. They can’t take it anymore,” local resident Alan Harris told the New Zealand Herald.
New Zealand’s earthquake monitoring service GNS Science has said the quakes were “within forecasted range”, but they will likely trigger a new cycle of heavy quakes in the days to come.
