Many Cantabrians still without water and power

Insurance claims for earthquake damage could top $2 billion. Photo / Getty Images

Earthquake-zone residents are being urged to stay home and conserve supplies as authorities work to restore water services, repair roads and ensure the sewerage system is safe.

A third of Christchurch was without water last night. Inner-city residents were being asked not to flush toilets because sewage pipes may have been damaged.

While power was restored to many affected areas, about 20 per cent of Christchurch was expected to spend the night with electricity.

"We had poles moving, some poles came down, broken wires, transformers came off poles, underground cables snapped in half," said Orion power company boss Roger Sutton.

Most roads held up well, said the New Zealand Transport Agency, but motorists were urged to stay off them unless travel was essential. At least 20 roads were damaged, with street surfaces lifted by water from ruptured mains. In other areas, roads were blocked by collapsed buildings.

Earthquake Commission chief executive Ian Simpson said more than 100,000 claims were expected.

Insurance companies called in extra staff to deal with a deluge of calls. IAG, which controls State, NZI and Lantern, received more calls in three hours than it would usually receive all day.

AMI Insurance marketing director Matthew Cody said by midday yesterday the company had more than 250 claims for home damage - most for chimney or brickwork damage.

The day was also a headache for telecommunications companies, with damage closing a TelstraClear call centre.

Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich said some supermarkets would limit products. "There will be a lot of panic buying but there won't be a problem getting products into Christchurch."

Council chairman and Sanitarium general manager Pierre Van Heerden said emergency response teams were activated to "ensure the continued supply of food and water".

- STAFF REPORTERS