Christchurch earthquake sightseers risk themselves and others

Soldiers patrol the streets where Christchurch earthquake tourists are becoming a problem. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The growing number of sightseers in central Christchurch are putting themselves and others in danger, say police.

Cordons in the earthquake-ravaged central business district were reduced in size yesterday and limited access was granted to owners of businesses.

But many people could be seen, even in cordoned-off areas, strolling amid the wreckage with cameras.

Police spokeswoman Annie Coughlin said some people had moved cones and taken away other signs used to establish cordons around buildings still in danger of collapse.

Aftershocks were still frequent and their actions were endangering people who might not realise they were entering a dangerous area, she said.

"Some people don't seem to realise they are putting themselves and other people at risk.

"We're saying to people who just want to have a look to not do that at this point.

"With aftershocks still common, falling debris is a concern."

The sightseeing has also caused many accidents on Christchurch's roads, with drivers distracted by chimneys being pulled down crashing into cars in front of them.

Many roads around cordoned-off areas suffered from congestion, with rubbernecking a major problem.

More than 100 people gathered at a demolition site during the afternoon, where children were reprimanded by police for breaking cordons and skating past diggers.

People with video cameras and cellphones were repeatedly told to back away from the digger.

The building, on the corner of Westminster and Cranford Sts, had to be demolished after an aftershock that threatened to collapse the building on top of a shopowner trying to recover stock. The shopkeeper, Rose Lennon, said she could feel the whole building sway.

"I forgot everything else and just ran for it," she said.

"There were huge cracks downthe walls and there was dust andwater coming down. The wholeplace was shaking. It was scary."

The street is one of the main roads into Christchurch and there was significant traffic disruption.

Cordoned-off areas were gradually reduced in size yesterday and last night were restricted just to buildings with crumbling facades and other obvious structural damage.