Singaporeans in Christchurch cope with damage to homes following quake
By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 05 September 2010 1639 hrs

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SINGAPORE : New Zealand's second biggest city of Christchurch is starting to count the cost of damage a day after a powerful earthquake hit the city.

Initial estimates have been put at around NZ$2 billion.

The Christchurch City Council estimates that around 500 buildings have been damaged in the quake.

Dr Azlan Daud's two-storey home is one of them. His three chimneys had fallen off, causing large gaping holes in the roof.

In addition, there were many cracks on the walls, and part of the floor had sunk.

He said: "I managed to get a builder to come and inspect the property itself and check on the foundation of the property.

"It was deemed to be safe to continue to live in, but we have avoided staying on the second floor since there are still tremors that are being felt, and some of the tremors are fairly high, measuring between 4 to 5 on the Richter scale, so we have been advised to stay on the lower floor."

Dr Azlan believes the cost of damage to his home to be around NZ$100,000.

He has since filed claims with the Earthquake Commission, which is a state disaster insurance fund.

The Commission said it has sufficient assets to be able to cover all claims made.

Some residents whose homes were slightly damaged said it has been difficult to get contractors to make an assessment.

This is because most of the builders have been busy attending to those with homes which had been seriously damaged.

However, residents like Anna Yeo were moved by how neighbours rallied to help one another. She said: "I had a neighbour come over. I do not even know who he is. He said he is going to put a tarpaulin over the hole where my chimney was, and he actually was so uncertain climbing up the roof.

"I was more nervous, I was going to tell him do not do it, in case he fell off the roof. He was so kind, he put a tarpaulin over the chimney and tied the rope around it because it was going to rain...and some people offered to pick up all the bricks from the chimney."

Residents also said they were uncertain whether they would be able to go back to work on Monday.

That is because a state of emergency is in force throughout the region and the central business district of Christchurch has remained shut. - CNA/ms