Quake death toll will rise - Key - Stuff.co.nz

LATEST: Prime Minister John Key says the death toll from Christchurch's devastating earthquake will rise and New Zealand must brace itself.

It is believed 75 are dead.

However, Key said as rescuers got into other sites that number would rise.

The Government will this morning raise the issue of releasing the names of those who have been killed with police.

Key said there was pressure on the police and their resources were stretched, but it made sense to release names as soon as next of kin had been notified.

He defended police who have described their efforts as a recovery operation.

Search teams were using dogs and a number of techniques to determine if there were sounds or signs of life under the rubble.

"They're not getting positive signs."

Key said that did not mean there would not be people who had survived building collapses.

"People can survive for a very long time without food or water."

He said New Zealand could not give up hope, but needed to be realistic.

Key said he flew over the CTV building yesterday and said it was in an "extraordinary bad state".

He defended the police decision to pull rescuers out of there yesterday and said while the wait to get in and search for survivors was agonising, the lives of searchers could not be put at risk.

"We just have to trust them. They absolutely will go in when they can."

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The focus today for those on the ground and the Government would be critical infrastructure.

"It's critical from a health perspective to get water and power restored."

Key said he and Finance Minister Bill English would have a conference call with 40 private sector chief executives to discuss how the commercial sector would respond and cope with the disaster.

A number of large companies were inside the cordoned off area and questions still needed to be answered about how they would begin to operate again, and where they would work from, Mr Key said.

The air force had flown 30 generators to Christchurch to help restore telecommunications.

Key said there had been no discussion about the Government levying all taxpayers to help pay the bill as Australia did after the Queensland floods.

- By KIRAN CHUG and MARTIN KAY

- Stuff

Sponsored links