Prime Minister John Key said the names of some of those killed in the disaster will be released on Thursday.
Key said the early indications were that there may be fatalities from a number of countries.
Police Superintendent Dave Cliff said 238 people are still missing in Christchurch, but many will have simply left town without telling anyone.
Police said those people trapped in the collapsed Canterbury TV building had no hope of survival. More than 120 are believed to be trapped in the building, including some international students.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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