A MERSEYSIDE ex-pat, left homeless by the devastating New Zealand earthquake, yesterday relived his terror as buildings collapsed around him.

As the death toll in Christchurch soared past the 100 mark, to reach 113 late last night, former Sefton Council worker Andrew Blankley described “sheer panic” when the powerful 6.3-magnitude tremor struck.

Mr Blankley, 26, whose parents and sister still live in Southport, said his suburban house faces being torn down amid fears it could buckle.

Scores of aftershocks have rippled through the southern island tourist city since Tuesday, as rescue teams search for signs of life. Mr Blankley, who emigrated two years ago, said: “I walked through town about an hour after the earthquake and it was unrecognisable. I’ve never seen anything like it before, parts of the city are just in ruins.

“There was a big aftershock when I was in the city centre which caused the entire facade of a nearby building to crash to the floor as people in the area ran for cover.

“People in town are panicking every time there is an aftershock, in case any other buildings collapse. There are rescue teams at ten sites in town trying to free people trapped in the rubble.