Soldiers take control of New Zealand town following earthquake

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - Soldiers have taken control of the centre of Christchurch two days after the city was rocked by a powerful earthquake.

Officials have extended a state of emergency for another two days, and access to the city centre is off limits to everyone except the owners of businesses and buildings.

The latest totals showed 500 buildings were destroyed by the magnitude 7.1 tremor.  It also wrecked roads and rail lines.  

Mayor Bob Parker said the earthquake has resulted in gastrointestinal illnesses affecting some people in the city.

No one was killed, however, and only two serious injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's prime minister is warning the country's economic recovery will be hurt by the quake.

Prime Minister John Key says there will be a considerable disruption to the regional and national economy in the short term.

The country's economy has recorded two quarters of minor growth after struggling to escape 18 months of recession.

Economists say the immediate economic outlook looks bleak, but they say reconstruction will give a boost to the struggling construction industry next year.

One economist says he thinks people are going to be pretty conservative over the next three months.