Quake victim Te Rina Jefferies is temporarily homeless but she's more worried about the fate of her budgies and guinea pigs.
She was one of three people living above Hallensteins on Gisborne's Gladstone Rd, which was damaged in Thursday's quake.
The building has been deemed too unsafe to
return to, so all three will live at a council-owned holiday camp until housing is found for them.
They are understood to be the only people displaced by the quake.
Ms Jefferies, 34, is a caregiver for 39-year-old Darren Neilsford-Jones, who has back problems. Both were at home in their first-floor flat on Thursday night.
Mr Neilsford-Jones said that while he went to a doorway for safety, Ms Jefferies raced for her guinea pigs Sweep and Milo and budgies Charlie and Carly.
"She ran to her pets. I wanted to get her out. I was yelling and screaming," he said. "It was so violent. And then it all of a sudden stopped."
Ms Jefferies was too upset to venture back that night.
Now she is worried about her pets. "I don't have children, so they're like my babies. Hopefully, they'll be all right. I'll say a little prayer."
Housing NZ is helping the pair to find accommodation, but says at this time of year finding a decent place could be difficult.
Engineers will have to assess the Hallensteins building before a decision is made on its future.
The other resident, Eric Haereroa, was too upset yesterday to talk to the Herald.
