John Carter

Wellington, Sept 4 NZPA - A state of emergency could be declared within the next two hours following a massive earthquake near Christchurch this morning.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck about 30km west of Christchurch at 4.35am today, at a depth of 10km, causing injuries, structural damage and gas leaks, cutting power, and rupturing water and sewerage mains.

Roads were blocked by debris, some in the central city caused by building frontages of older buildings collapsing. Cars were crushed under the rubble, and wardens were warning people to stay away from older buildings as they feared further collapses.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter rushed to Wellington, where the National Crisis Management Centre in the Beehive has been activated to monitor the quake, and co-ordinate central government response.

Within the next two hours Mr Carter, Prime Minister John Key and Civil Defence officials will hold a crisis meeting, followed by a conference call with all affected mayors.

A state of emergency could then be declared but that would be the decision of the local authorities, Mr Carter said.

The United Nations had contacted the Government and was being kept informed of the situation, which Mr Carter described as a "significant disaster".

Plans were in place to get milk tankers full of water into the city but the water was likely to be rationed, he said.

Mr Carter said many people were suffering from shock but he urged the public not to flood the hospital with minor injuries. They should instead go to their local 24-hour medical centres.

"The most important thing we can tell anybody at the moment is please don't panic," he said.

The army had been informed and was ready to mobilise if needed.

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee, who is MP for Ilam, said he expected power to be restored this afternoon.