The death toll from the Christchurch earthquake could rise as high as 200 after police confirmed up to 120 people are feared dead at the Canterbury TV building site.
Police believe there are a further 22 bodies inside Christchurch’s Cathedral Square.
They said 238 people were missing after Tuesday’s 6.3 magnitude earthquake although some may have already left Christchurch before the disaster.
The official death toll stands at 76.
Police delayed a list of the missing, along with identifying a limited number of those confirmed dead, until 6pm local time.
It is expected that a large number of overseas visitors will be among those who perished in the earthquake.
The numbers
76 dead
238 reported missing
164 patients admitted as “seriously injuredâ€
80 percent of the city without reticulated water
40 percent of the city without power
$16 billion JP Morgan damage estimate
1000 number of rescuers by this weekend
40 police cordons in the city
1464 New Zealand Defence Force personnel directly supporting the operation
20 people are thought to remain in the pancaked PGC building
