Mass exodus from quake damaged city

50,000 people have departed from Christchurch Airport since the 6.3 earthquake last Tuesday that left a third of the central city buildings either destroyed or condemned, over a hundred dead and the eastern suburbs in disarray. Aaron Waine, who lost his mother Susan Chuter when the Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapsed told the New Zealand Herald "We can't stay here with this constant horrible reminder of what's happened here and what we've lost,". In addition to those leaving by plane, many others departed by bus, private vehicle, or even on foot. Australian Gloria Cotton, 84, who has lived in Christchurch for the last fifteen years told AAP “We can't live like this, with the constant shaking,” Christchurch has had 5000 aftershocks since a 7.1 quake hit last September. While lower on the Richter scale, last weeks shake was shallower and came in the middle of a normal work day, causing much more destruction than the initial earthquake, which hit at 4:35am on a Sunday morning.

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Today the government announced its rescue package for workers and employers, Prime Minister John Key told media that the economic impact of the earthquake is bigger than the economic toll that Hurricane Katrina had on New Orleans in 2005. Businesses will receive $500 a week per full-time employee and $300 a week per part-time employee. A separate job loss cover of $400 a week will go to those whose employers believe their business is no longer viable. The package is expected to cost $100 to $120 million. As of tomorrow, recovery operations in the CTV building will be moved from 24 hour operations to daylight hours only. Donations to help those affected by the quake can be made through St John or the Red Cross.