There was another biggish aftershock just a couple of hours ago - 4.1 this time but there were several slightly less overnight.
Still no more survivers.
Lots of statistics being produced -
123 confirmed dead
Many in hospital - 164 serious, 11 in IC
They believe there are people from 20 different countries - many at the language school but also others who were just being tourists in Cathedral Square. Some people were seen up in the lookout/bell tower in the Cathedral and others inside or just nearby when the spire and half the tower came down. It's still too unsafe for workers to get inside and start digging but they think there are 22 people still in there. The rescue dogs haven't found anyone alive.
There are still over 200 missing but some of those may have already left the area - lots have been evacuated to Wellington, Auckland or other places and many families have jumped in their cars and driven away.
About 30% of the CBD has been or will need to be demolished.
About 60% of the CBD is badly damaged but can be saved.
100,000 homes without sewerage.
1,000 Portaloos are being delivered and 5,000 chemical toilets have been distributed.
An enterprising kiwi bloke has started making outdoor loos for people in his area - a wooden box with a toilet seat attached and his mate is digging the deep hole for it to be placed over, in the back garden. Then it's up to the household to arrange some sort of privacy/shelter around it. Back to the days of dunnys and longdrops!
Help is arriving from all around the world - Interpol, a Japanese rescue team, firemen from everywhere, police teams from Australia as well.
The original rescuers have been able to catch some sleep now.
The Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, is giving TV and radio interviews, giving an excellent picture of what is happening. But then, before he got into politics, Bob was a really good TV reporter and newsreader. He says this is like an iceberg - 10% can be seen but the other 90% is happening unseen - the scale is immense! The restoration of services is crucial.
Meanwhile, teams of students, groups of farmers and others are out there this morning, digging up all the mud and sand that covers roads and properties in the suburbs.
I work at Hohepa Homes, a farming community with handcraft studios, as well as the school for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, here in Hawke's Bay - hundreds of miles and a whole island away from the earthquake zone. But there is a branch of Hohepa in Canterbury and some of our staff have gone down to help, to relieve the staff there, to look after any residents that are traumatised and to assess the damage to the homes and farm. I believe they have sent many of the residents home, especially if they are from out of town but there are still about 20 who are high needs, who need special care.
It's Saturday morning here in NZ but in Canterbury nobody is having a relaxing weekend! No sports either.
Robyn