KEY POINTS:
The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has now received more than 1000 claims since Thursday's destructive earthquake in Gisborne.
Of these 987 were from Gisborne, 27 from Wairoa and 103 from other areas.
The total estimated cost of the claims received so far is $6,042,206.
Gisborne District Council said yesterday the situation was now being handled by recovery manager John Clarke, with a focus on ensuring business as usual for the central business district and a normal Christmas period for the overall district.
Council building inspectors and engineers would continue to assess buildings and advise and assist retailers and business owners. Safety barriers around unsafe building areas remain in place.
Fourteen adults and four children are continuing to receive temporary accommodation and the Ministry of Social Development 0800 779 997 help-line number will remain open.
Sixteen people were injured and the council confirmed one elderly woman died of a suspected heart attack around the time the quake struck.
Buildings in the city were left partially collapsed, roofs caved in, water tanks and winery vats burst and gaping holes appeared in roadways, after an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the region at 8.55pm on Thursday.
It was centred 50km offshore southeast of Gisborne at a depth of 40km. It has been followed by several aftershocks.
A state of emergency in the city was lifted on Saturday and only a small number of retailers remain closed.
Figures released by the EQC this morning show there have now been 1117 claims received in the aftermath of the quake.
On Friday the EQC said it was likely there would eventually be several thousand claims totalling between $20 and $30 million.
- NZPA
