Residents trying to take in events in Christchurch neighbourhood, as they return home after gas explosion

A scene examination continues today in the suburb of Northwood, yesterday the cordon was reduced to Marble Court houses only.

Nikolai Marinkovic lives about 150 metres from the house on Marble Court which exploded.

He says from the outside, houses on his street seem alright - but those on Marble Court are a "bit banged up".

Marinkovic says some of those houses have tarps over them to stop water getting in.