N.Zealand braces for more destruction after quake

"We are here to support them. We are not going to let Christchurch suffer this great tragedy on its own," the prime minister said.

The earthquake was New Zealand's most destructive since the 1931 tremor in the North Island city of Napier, which killed 256 people.

Although nobody died in Saturday's quake, civil defence officials warned the emergency was not over, as more than 30 aftershocks had hit the region within 24 hours of the main quake and were likely to continue for several weeks.

A storm was also likely to bring fresh challenges with wind gusts up to 130 kilometres (80 miles) an hour expected during Sunday night and heavy rain to follow on Monday.

As night fell, the storm hit Dunedin, around 400 kilometres (250 miles) south of Christchurch.

"(There are) trees down, lines down, roofs lifting, trees falling on houses all that sort of thing, the wind is moving up the island so we're expecting Timaru, and later Christchurch to get hammered as well," fire service shift manager Jan Wills said.

In Christchurch, weather forecaster Philip Duncan said the storm could further damage trees and buildings that were weakened in the earthquake.

"Regardless of whether Christchurch sees gusts of 130 km/h, the threat is very high that strong winds tonight and tomorrow could cause further serious problems," he said.

A fresh threat arose late Sunday when it emerged the flood defences of the Waimakariri River just north of the city had been weakened and it was feared it would burst its banks if the approaching rain caused the river to swell.

Hundreds of families in the area were warned to be ready to evacuate.

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