Nine houses off limits after blast
Neighbours’ access to homes banned or restricted
Nine Christchurch homes damaged in Friday’s giant gas explosion have been declared off-limits and WorkSafe has taken over from police as the lead agency investigating the blast.
Neighbours and passersby who pulled stunned survivors from the burning debris were amazed nobody was killed instantly in the morning blast.
As inquiries into the cause continue, one man remains in a critical condition at Christchurch Hospital. Another is stable, and Counties Manukau DHB said a patient at Middlemore Hospital, which has a serious burns unit, is also stable. Three others are out.
The 10.14am explosion obliterated a Marble Court house in the northern suburb of Northwood. Blast waves scattered chunks of roof tiles
and other debris around the neighbourhood. Several nearby houses have major damage, including blasted walls, caved-in garage doors, smashed windows and eaves.
Yesterday afternoon, Christchurch City Council head of regulatory compliance Tracey Weston confirmed that four dangerous building notices have been issued, which prevent “use or occupation” of the properties.
A further five houses have been issued restricted access notices, allowing only specific people like insurance agents, structural engineers, specialists, builders or tradespeople, and owners “for retrieval of personal items” to enter.
A gas contractor working on the Marble Court house the day before it exploded arrived at the chaotic scene on Friday and fronted to police officers.
Superintendent Lane Todd, the police commander for the Canterbury Metro area, referred inquiries to WorkSafe, which said it will continue to work with police and firefighters to determine the causes.
As well as working under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, WorkSafe is the regulator for ensuring the safe supply and use of electricity and gas under the Gas Act 1992 and the Electricity Act 1992.
A WorkSafe spokeswoman said its investigations can take up to a year to complete.
Some homeowners face a long wait before they can return to their homes.
Cordons remain around the most-affected properties.
Indraj and Akita Fonsaka, who live across the road, said their lives have been thrown into turmoil and, like many of their neighbours, they are unsure when, if ever, they’ll be allowed home.
“We were living very peacefully here,” said Akita.