WELLINGTON- Aftershocks rocked New Zealand's second-biggest city on Monday causing further damage and forcing authorities to extend a state of emergency after the country's most damaging earthquake in 80 years. More than 20 aftershocks, the strongest with a magnitude of 4.8, were felt through Monday, sending already loose masonry and bricks in damaged buildings crashing into the streets. However, despite early estimates of a NZ$2 billion ($1.4 billion) repair bill, financial markets were little affected and followed broader market moves, which pushed the New Zealand dollar higher and debt lower. Prime Minister John Key said as many as 100,000 homes, about two out of every three in the region, may have been damaged to some degree by the magnitude 7.1 quake which struck early on Saturday. "The above-ground damage is obvious, but it could take some time to understand just how much damage there is to underground infrastructure," Key told a news conference. Power and water supplies have been restored to most of the region, but about 200 people are staying in emergency shelters. The region has been hit by more than 100 aftershocks, the strongest measuring magnitude 5.4, causing more damage and forcing the Christchurch City Council to extend the closure of the central business district until Wednesday. Quick action was taken to demolish some of the most severely damaged buildings as aftershocks sent debris crashing to the street. "It had to be bulldozed down, they couldn't do anything with it, but it's distressing to see it like that," said Ken Fisk after his barber shop was pulled down.
