What you need to know:
- Several houses have been destroyed
- The fire has crossed Dyers Pass Road into Victoria Park
- A state of emergency has been declared and the Defence Force called in
- Helicopters have been stood down
- If you're at all worried, ring 111 and self evacuate. Don't wait until someone knocks on your door.
Evacuated areas:
- South side of Cashmere Rd to Kennedy's Bush Rd and to Hoon Hay Valley Rd
- Residents in the area from the Sign of the Takehe to Victoria Park
- Several hundred people have been officially evacuated from homes in Long Hurst Terrace, Worsley Rd, Cracroft, the bottom of Hoon Hay Valley Rd and the Westmorland area
- Hundreds of others across the hills have self-evacuated as the fire spreads.
Where to go:
- Welfare centres for evacuated residents have been set up at Te Hāpua Halswell Centre on Halswell Rd, Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae on Pages Rd and the Selwyn Events centre on Meijer Dr.
The massive fires tearing through Christchurch's Port Hills has produced thick smoke visible from space.
Satellite images of the blaze were shared by MetService on Tuesday, showing the sheer amount of dark grey smoke pouring from the fires.
Five houses have already been destroyed by the fire, which has been raging since Monday.
A state of civil emergency has been declared as firefighters desperately try to gain the upper hand.
Hundreds of residents have been forced to flee their homes and air support, including 14 helicopters and two fixed-wing aircrafts, has been withdrawn for the night.
Fire crews expect the blazes to continue to burn for at least another 48 to 72 hours.
- Grim time-lapse highlights furious Port Hills fire
- Christchurch helicopters stood down from firefighting
- New video shows devastation at Christchurch Adventure Park
- Smoke chokes sky in Port Hills aerial fire photo
- Christchurch Council to residents: Get out now
- State of emergency declared 'too late' - Brownlee
Newshub.
