It's a day to reassess the situation in Christchurch's Northwood suburb

Residents of more than twenty properties were kept out of their homes overnight after a nearby house exploded yesterday morning, causing widespread damage.

The Styx Mill Country Club opened itself as a welfare centre after the incident, and Club chair Bruce Rule says they will reopen at eight o'clock this morning.

He says emergency services are working hard to reduce the cordon and get people back home.

Rule says some of those kept out of their homes were briefly allowed in to check on pets and grab medication.