Royal Commission hearings into the Canterbury earthquakes started in Christchurch today, with a indication that questions will be raised about whether some of those trapped in collapsed buildings could have survived.
The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has heard that evidence crucial to working out what caused the collapse of the Canterbury Television Building, was destroyed by the firm which oversaw its design.
For the first time the man whose firm designed the CTV building has apologised to the families of the 115 people killed when it collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake.
Police cordoned off roads to the CBD following the magnitude 7 earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday 4-9-2010.
Police cordoned off roads to the CBD following the magnitude 7 earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday 4-9-2010.
Police cordoned off roads to the CBD following the magnitude 7 earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday 4-9-2010.
Every house has a roof ..... aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
Police cordoned off roads to the CBD following the magnitude 7 earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday 4-9-2010.
This shop lost its gable during the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
This building lost its parapet during the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
Nothing wrong with this carpark building; that's just a mural on one of the structural shear walls.
This building lost its parapet during the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
This building lost its parapet during the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
Building facade reduced to rubble during the magnitude 7.1 eathquake that struck Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
Building parapet reduced to rubble during the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
Building parapet reduced to rubble during the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
This building lost its parapet during the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit Christchurch on 4 September 2010.
A photograph of an earthquake-damaged building on the corner of Tuam and High Streets. A section of the wall has collapsed leaving the inside of the building exposed.
A photograph of earthquake damage to the Crown Masonic Lodge on Wordsworth Street, also known as the Freemasons Centre. The brick wall on one side of the building has collapsed, exposing the interior.
A photograph of earthquake damage to the Crown Masonic Lodge on Wordsworth Street, also known as the Freemasons Centre. The brick wall on one side of the building has collapsed, exposing the interior.
The badly damaged Canterbury Provincial Chambers building. The roof and upper walls of the Stone Chamber have collapsed. Scaffolding has been erected up the side of the building and a tarpaulin covers the roof.
A photograph of earthquake damage to the Crown Masonic Lodge on Wordsworth Street, also known as the Freemasons Centre. The brick wall on one side of the building has collapsed, exposing the interior.
A photograph of earthquake damage to the Crown Masonic Lodge on Wordsworth Street, also known as the Freemasons Centre. The brick wall on one side of the building has collapsed, exposing the interior.
The city cordon on Colombo Street. People are looking into the City red zone from the street cordon. Inside the cordon is a row of damaged buildings the upper storeys have partially collapsed..
Damage to a row of shops in Shirley. The parapets and awnings have collapsed, and the footpath is littered with rubble. The building has been cordoned off with police tape.
Auckland structural engineer John Scarry is concerned that the series of investigations into earthquake related collapses of Christchurch buildings won't result in the changes needed to make the city safer.
The Anglican Church has been asked why it failed to carry out a detailed inspection of a building which partially collapsed, killing a Canadian tourist in Christchurch during the February earthquake.
An experienced builder says he couldn't wait to get out of the Canterbury Television Building after seeing how damaged it was in the September 2010 earthquake.
The man whose firm designed the CTV building has apologised for the first time to the families of the 115 people killed when the building collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake.
People will be told by Christmas if they are in unsafe buildings that have the same flaw as the CTV building, which collapsed killing 115 people in the Christchurch earthquake.