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| New Zealand earthquake: Kaikoura seal sanctuary 'wiped out' – live | New Zealand earthquake: Kaikoura seal sanctuary 'wiped out' – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.54am GMT | |
| 01:54 | |
| The mayor of Wellington, Justin Lester has just been speaking about the office building at 61 Molesworth Street, in the centre of the city, that has been deemed unsafe and liable to collapse. | |
| He told reporters: | |
| Internally there were some problems … That’s why it’s a likelihood it will be deconstructed. | |
| Mike Scott, the city’s general manager of building control, said officials might be able to reduce the cordon around the threatened block, but that some restrictions would need to remain for safety reasons. | |
| 1.38am GMT | |
| 01:38 | |
| The US department of defence has deployed the USS Sampson to aid the relief effort in New Zealand. | |
| The warship was already in the region as part of events to mark Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary. It was the first US warship to visit New Zealand for 30 years, since Wellington adopted a nuclear-free policy in the 1980s. That meant a blanket ban on US ships, since America will not confirm whether its vessels have nuclear capabilities. | |
| The detente means the USS Sampson was on hand in the wake of Monday’s earthquake. US defence officials said: | |
| The guided missile destroyer USS Sampson is rushing to New Zealand to help those affected by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake … | |
| Navy Admiral Harry Harris, the Pacom commander, said the ship carries two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters that will be invaluable at the scene … | |
| The ship joins a Navy P-3C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft that has already deployed to New Zealand. The aircraft is based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. | |
| 1.17am GMT | 1.17am GMT |
| 01:17 | 01:17 |
| Department of conservation (DOC) ranger Mike Morrissey told stuff.co.nz that some seals were likely to have been killed in the landslide at Ohau Point, while others would be returning from sea to find their home gone: | Department of conservation (DOC) ranger Mike Morrissey told stuff.co.nz that some seals were likely to have been killed in the landslide at Ohau Point, while others would be returning from sea to find their home gone: |
| Those seals generally come back to the area where they were born. They’ll go in there and it won’t be like anywhere they recognise before, so they’ll probably just go and breed on other parts of the coast. | Those seals generally come back to the area where they were born. They’ll go in there and it won’t be like anywhere they recognise before, so they’ll probably just go and breed on other parts of the coast. |
| The majority of that breeding colony [at Ohau Point] is completely gone. It’s just rock. | The majority of that breeding colony [at Ohau Point] is completely gone. It’s just rock. |
| 1.05am GMT | 1.05am GMT |
| 01:05 | 01:05 |
| Environmentalist Kimberley Collins has shared this video of seals at Kaikoura’s Ohau Point – the area is believed to have been destroyed by landslides prompted by the earthquake: | Environmentalist Kimberley Collins has shared this video of seals at Kaikoura’s Ohau Point – the area is believed to have been destroyed by landslides prompted by the earthquake: |
| Gutted to hear the seal breeding colony at Ohau Point has been destroyed in the quake. I loved watching them play in the rock pools! 💔 #EQNZ pic.twitter.com/H74I5xsWBg | Gutted to hear the seal breeding colony at Ohau Point has been destroyed in the quake. I loved watching them play in the rock pools! 💔 #EQNZ pic.twitter.com/H74I5xsWBg |
| The department of conservation has said that some seals would have been out at sea feeding and so may have escaped the impact, but that the slip was “likely to have resulted in casualties to seals”. | The department of conservation has said that some seals would have been out at sea feeding and so may have escaped the impact, but that the slip was “likely to have resulted in casualties to seals”. |
| 12.46am GMT | 12.46am GMT |
| 00:46 | 00:46 |
| Buildings at risk of collapse in Wellington | Buildings at risk of collapse in Wellington |
| Meanwhile, in Wellington, Molesworth Street in the CBD – just round the corner from the parliament – remains cordoned off amid fears an office building is facing collapse. | Meanwhile, in Wellington, Molesworth Street in the CBD – just round the corner from the parliament – remains cordoned off amid fears an office building is facing collapse. |
| @Yakcall another view of building on Molesworth pic.twitter.com/K7Cg8yszne | @Yakcall another view of building on Molesworth pic.twitter.com/K7Cg8yszne |
| Wellington’s fire region manager, Brendan Nally, said on Tuesday: | Wellington’s fire region manager, Brendan Nally, said on Tuesday: |
| We have a clear structural failure. What’s caused that will be determined later. The clear structural failure is a major beam, a vertical beam in the building, has been shorn. | We have a clear structural failure. What’s caused that will be determined later. The clear structural failure is a major beam, a vertical beam in the building, has been shorn. |
| It looks somewhat like a broken bone in the leg. It is fractured through. It is a major supporting beam. It is up above the fifth floor, so it is the top four floors. | It looks somewhat like a broken bone in the leg. It is fractured through. It is a major supporting beam. It is up above the fifth floor, so it is the top four floors. |
| Stuff.co.nz reports that an apartment building in the centre of the capital has also been evacuated over worries about its safety and stability. Part of Tennyson St and Lorne St are cordoned off, it reports. | Stuff.co.nz reports that an apartment building in the centre of the capital has also been evacuated over worries about its safety and stability. Part of Tennyson St and Lorne St are cordoned off, it reports. |
| 12.28am GMT | 12.28am GMT |
| 00:28 | 00:28 |
| Kaikoura seal sanctuary 'destroyed' | Kaikoura seal sanctuary 'destroyed' |
| As relief efforts continue for people affected by the quake and its fallout, concerns are also shifting to the fate of wildlife, especially in the South Island. | As relief efforts continue for people affected by the quake and its fallout, concerns are also shifting to the fate of wildlife, especially in the South Island. |
| Kaikoura’s famed seal sanctuary at Ohau Point is reported to have been wiped out by a landslide. | Kaikoura’s famed seal sanctuary at Ohau Point is reported to have been wiped out by a landslide. |
| Ian Angus, manager of marine species and threats at the department of conservation (DOC), said: | Ian Angus, manager of marine species and threats at the department of conservation (DOC), said: |
| It is clear from reports that the recent earthquakes have impacted upon wildlife, including seals, penguins and seabirds. DOC’s immediate priority in the aftermath of the earthquakes is to assist Civil Defence with the recovery effort, including ensuring that structures and tracks are safe. | It is clear from reports that the recent earthquakes have impacted upon wildlife, including seals, penguins and seabirds. DOC’s immediate priority in the aftermath of the earthquakes is to assist Civil Defence with the recovery effort, including ensuring that structures and tracks are safe. |
| DOC is aware there has been a large slip at Ohau Point, which is a specially protected seal sanctuary. Images indicate the landslips are likely to have resulted in casualties to seals. | DOC is aware there has been a large slip at Ohau Point, which is a specially protected seal sanctuary. Images indicate the landslips are likely to have resulted in casualties to seals. |
| Some seals will likely have been out at sea foraging and so may not have been impacted. There are still places north and south of Ohau Point where seals can haul themselves out to rest. | Some seals will likely have been out at sea foraging and so may not have been impacted. There are still places north and south of Ohau Point where seals can haul themselves out to rest. |
| Another significant species impacted is the Hutton’s shearwater, and other species such as blue penguins may have been affected. | Another significant species impacted is the Hutton’s shearwater, and other species such as blue penguins may have been affected. |
| Seals and seabirds are often found breeding or resting in exposed areas, such as a cliff or seashore, and so may be prone to further slips or landslides. | Seals and seabirds are often found breeding or resting in exposed areas, such as a cliff or seashore, and so may be prone to further slips or landslides. |
| It will be important that the safety of the researchers can be ensured before visiting seal or seabird colonies. For this reason, a full assessment of the impact of the earthquakes on our wildlife may take several weeks. | It will be important that the safety of the researchers can be ensured before visiting seal or seabird colonies. For this reason, a full assessment of the impact of the earthquakes on our wildlife may take several weeks. |
| 12.10am GMT | 12.10am GMT |
| 00:10 | 00:10 |
| Although relief efforts – and international attention – have been focused on Kaikoura, which has been cut off from road access since the quake struck in the early hours of Monday, other communities have also been hit. And some feel they need more help than they are getting, as Eleanor Ainge Roy reports from Waiau, the town closest to the epicentre: | Although relief efforts – and international attention – have been focused on Kaikoura, which has been cut off from road access since the quake struck in the early hours of Monday, other communities have also been hit. And some feel they need more help than they are getting, as Eleanor Ainge Roy reports from Waiau, the town closest to the epicentre: |
| Waiau, in north Canterbury, is home to 280 people. Its name means flowing water in Māori. And flowing water has been the community’s main concern these last couple of days, after unstable bridges over the grey Waiau river made road access impossible for relief vehicles, or residents wanting to leave. | Waiau, in north Canterbury, is home to 280 people. Its name means flowing water in Māori. And flowing water has been the community’s main concern these last couple of days, after unstable bridges over the grey Waiau river made road access impossible for relief vehicles, or residents wanting to leave. |
| Although located only 80km (50 miles) south-west of Kaikoura – where a massive relief operation is under way – people in Waiau feel they have been left to fend for themselves. | Although located only 80km (50 miles) south-west of Kaikoura – where a massive relief operation is under way – people in Waiau feel they have been left to fend for themselves. |
| Since the 7.5-magnitude quake, food supplies have been salvaged from the collapsed pub and Brenda Smith’s tea shop. An elderly woman’s oxygen bottle has been hooked up to a farm generator to keep her alive. | Since the 7.5-magnitude quake, food supplies have been salvaged from the collapsed pub and Brenda Smith’s tea shop. An elderly woman’s oxygen bottle has been hooked up to a farm generator to keep her alive. |
| About 200 people who no longer have a place to call home are camping on the grass beside a primary school playground. | About 200 people who no longer have a place to call home are camping on the grass beside a primary school playground. |
| Initial estimates by surveyors flown in to inspect the damage to the town suggest at least 15 buildings may have to be demolished, leaving as many as half of the residents facing an uncertain future. | Initial estimates by surveyors flown in to inspect the damage to the town suggest at least 15 buildings may have to be demolished, leaving as many as half of the residents facing an uncertain future. |
| The fire chief, Hugh Wells, said he realised the community would need to mobilise rapidly because help would not be arriving any time soon. | The fire chief, Hugh Wells, said he realised the community would need to mobilise rapidly because help would not be arriving any time soon. |
| “I basically thought, if we are this bad, how bad is the rest of New Zealand? We need to be ready to feed and look after ourselves for a couple of days, at least, before help kicks in,” said Wells, his eyes bloodshot with fatigue. | “I basically thought, if we are this bad, how bad is the rest of New Zealand? We need to be ready to feed and look after ourselves for a couple of days, at least, before help kicks in,” said Wells, his eyes bloodshot with fatigue. |
| “We haven’t really started getting any help till today. It has been very frustrating watching all the reporters flying around taking pictures from the sky but not landing to help us or see if we are OK.” | “We haven’t really started getting any help till today. It has been very frustrating watching all the reporters flying around taking pictures from the sky but not landing to help us or see if we are OK.” |
| 11.58pm GMT | 11.58pm GMT |
| 23:58 | 23:58 |
| The initial magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit just after midnight as Sunday moved into Monday – 60 hours later, New Zealand has been shaken by 1,718 quakes, some severe. | The initial magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit just after midnight as Sunday moved into Monday – 60 hours later, New Zealand has been shaken by 1,718 quakes, some severe. |
| New Zealanders have been warned that aftershocks are likely to continue for some time yet. | New Zealanders have been warned that aftershocks are likely to continue for some time yet. |
| 12 pm update: 37 eqs in the last hour, 336 eqs in last 12 hrs (21 over M4) and 1718 eqs since the M7.5. Kaikoura Earthquake #eqnz #Kaikoura pic.twitter.com/uikMZNkQB4 | 12 pm update: 37 eqs in the last hour, 336 eqs in last 12 hrs (21 over M4) and 1718 eqs since the M7.5. Kaikoura Earthquake #eqnz #Kaikoura pic.twitter.com/uikMZNkQB4 |
| 11.49pm GMT | 11.49pm GMT |
| 23:49 | 23:49 |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the aftermath of Monday’s massive earthquake in New Zealand. | Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the aftermath of Monday’s massive earthquake in New Zealand. |
| Relief efforts continue, with hundreds of people who have been stranded in Kaikoura, a coastal town in the South Island popular with tourists, starting to be shipped out to the HMNZS Canterbury, which has anchored nearby. | Relief efforts continue, with hundreds of people who have been stranded in Kaikoura, a coastal town in the South Island popular with tourists, starting to be shipped out to the HMNZS Canterbury, which has anchored nearby. |
| We will have all the latest news here through the day. If you’re affected by the quake and its aftermath, please do contact me via the comments below or on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. | We will have all the latest news here through the day. If you’re affected by the quake and its aftermath, please do contact me via the comments below or on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. |