Date/time: Wednesday 23 February 2011, 1030hrs Release No: 2

The Bay of Plenty Group Emergency Coordination Centre (GECC) has today deployed three search and rescue teams to Canterbury in response to a request from the National Crisis Management Centre.

The teams from Whakatane (seven people), Rotorua (seven people), western Bay of Plenty (10 people) are leaving the region today and are expected to arrive in Canterbury tomorrow morning. The primary role of these teams will be search and rescue of people trapped in buildings and under infrastructure.

An earthquake (an aftershock of the 4 September 2010 earthquake) of magnitude 6.3 struck yesterday at 12:51 hours 10km south east of Christchurch. The earthquake was at a depth of 5km.

This has been followed by a number of aftershocks, the largest 5.7 magnitude, which was 6km deep and centred 10km east of Canterbury.

Bay of Plenty GECC Group Controller Warwick Murray said that it was important to get the search and rescue teams to Canterbury as quickly as possible to support efforts in the area.

“In addition to these teams, the regional group is compiling a list of other appropriately qualified people and equipment that is available for deployment to Canterbury,” Mr Murray said.

“People in the region really want to help in Canterbury, so we are coordinating with the National Crisis Management Centre about what assistance is needed and when. If Canterbury needs our people and equipment to help them then we will get it there as quickly as possible.

“Everyone wants to help but we need to ensure that we send people and equipment that is most needed and that is what we are focusing on at the moment.

If you have training in appropriate areas to assist with the Bay of Plenty’s support for the Canterbury Earthquake, please call the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on email bopgecc@gmail.com or 0800 884 880 to register. Please also provide information about what your area of expertise is or the equipment you have available.

To keep up to date with developments go to the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management website (wwwmcdem.govt.nz), Bay of Plenty CDEM website (www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz) and other news media.

For the latest updates on Bay of Plenty’s support to the Canterbury Earthquke, please visit::

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management website www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz; or
Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website www.boprc.govt.nz and Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/boprc

ENDS

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