New Zealand Death Toll Rises to 145
The devastating earthquake which hit Christchurch, New Zealand, causing wide-spread damage has left 145 people dead.
New Zealand's Superintendent, Dave Cliff, warned the number was expected to rise further.
[Dave Cliff, New Zealand Superintendent]:
"We expect that number to rise as the search and rescue teams progressively find more and more deceased within the ruins."
Local rescuers have been joined by teams from six countries, including the United States, China, Japan, and Australia.
Hopes of finding people alive five days after the 6.3 quake struck have dimmed as violent aftershocks hamper rescue efforts.
Over 200 people are still missing.
The nation's Prime Minister John Key met and thanked search and rescue teams in the city.
John Key, New Zealand Prime Minister]:
"It's fair to say that they fear the worst, but there is still a glimmer of hope. What is really important to recognize is that the urban search and rescue people made it quite clear that this is very much still a rescue effort, not a recovery. As every moment passes, obviously it's become more challenging but people can survive for considerable amounts of time without water and food."
The last survivor rescued was a woman found mid-afternoon on Wednesday.
Key said they were working closely with foreign embassies to get families up-to-date information.
[John Key, New Zealand Prime Minister]:
"Our foreign affairs department is working very closely with the embassies around the world to make sure that information is flowing back and that the families and countries can be supported with the best information as fast as we possibly can. And we'll continue to work on that process, but obviously we are fearful that particularly in the CTV building where there was a major language school, that we have lost quite a significant number of people from overseas."
The bodies recovered so far include people from 20 countries, some of whom were students in Christchurch to learn English.
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