21 May 2013

Houses to be checked after emergency demolition

8:25 pm on 21 May 2013

Officials will check other homes in a Christchurch cliffside suburb after an emergency demolition of an earthquake-damaged home.

The house in Redcliffs had been deserted since the February 2011 quake and was scheduled to be pulled down.

Water was being dropped to clear the site of debris.

Water was being dropped to clear the site of debris. Photo: RNZ

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was alerted to the danger posed by the two-storied house last week by a member of the public.

The main road between Christchurch and Sumner was closed on Monday as the house was taken apart to stop it tumbling down a 40-metre cliff onto the road below.

The road remained closed for part of Tuesday as a helicopter dropped water on the property to clear debris from the site, but reopened about 3.30pm.

The man in charge of the demolition, Brenden Winder, says heavy rain and a 4.2-magnitude quake on Friday left the house in a dangerous state.

Mr Winder says the earthquake authority will reassess other houses in a similar situation.

A spokesperson for the authority says it is up to the owner and their insurer to carry out any further work on what remains of the house.