CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand army is now in control of central area of New Zealand's South Island city of Christchurch as the clean-up continued following Saturday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake.
Two contingents of 80 soldiers began 12 hour rotations from 8 a. m. on Monday.
Fatigue is setting in for emergency services personnel, who need to be replaced, which is why the army has taken over the cordons in the central city, Radio New Zealand said.
Meanwhile, 80 police reinforcements brought in from Auckland on Saturday, will be replaced later on Monday with officers from Wellington and Timaru.
A state of emergency in New Zealand South Island city of Christchurch has been extended until Wednesday following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake on Saturday.
Much of the ruined city remains cordoned off on Monday morning, while search and rescue teams assess buildings for damage.
A 12-hour curfew covering the center of Christchurch was lifted at 7 a.m. on Monday. It was the second night that police have maintained a lockdown of the central business district.
Another curfew in the city is intended on Monday, from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m., for the public's safety.
