Fire Service says no danger to public at Lyttelton Port

The Fire Service says there is no public danger at this stage following the collapse of a Lyttelton cliff face onto an fuel bulk storage tank at the Port.

The landslide has dislodged the valve of the tank which is now discharging aviation fuel into the containment bund surrounding the tank. The aviation fuel is mixing with rain water and will be decanted from the bund and pumped into nearby empty tanks.

Assistant Area Commander Greg Crawford said no one was injured, and no other property appears to have been badly damaged in the landslide, however homes in the area, above the tank farm, have been evacuated as a precaution.

He said one other tank appears to have been dented in the landslide and this is being monitored but there is no evidence at this point that any of its contents have been affected.

There is a strong smell of fuel in the area and while the fumes may be dispersed by the wind, the smell could linger for up to 24 hours.

Police advise that they have moved the designated evacuation centre from the Main School to the the council service centre at 15 London Street.

An earlier statement from Police stated:

At 1353hrs on Wednesday 5th March 2014 Police were advised by member of the public that as a result of a land slip there was a strong smell of fuel coming from the direction of the fuel storage tanks at Lyttelton Port. Police, Fire and Ambulance are in attendance. Police cordons are in place. Evacuations from Brittan Tce and Cressy Tce are in progress to the reconciliation area at the Lyttelton Main School. Fire and CERA Engineers are on scene to assess the situation. There have been no reports of injuries to any one and there is no immediate threat to the public. Fire are the lead agency is this emergency. There will be a further update at 1615hrs.

A further update will be provided by the Fire Service at about 5.30pm.

ENDS

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