Christchurch death toll rises to 75, over 300 missing

At least 75 had been killed and is likely to go up while around 300 remain missing after yesterday's deadly temblor that hit New Zealand's Christchurch city of 400,000 people, said Prime Minister John Key, the Bloomberg reported.

Already named were 55 victims while 20 recovered bodies still await identification as hundreds of rescuers dig for people trapped under the ruined buildings severely damaged by the 6.3 magnitude quake--the country's deadliest in 80 years. In 1931, the earthquake in Napier killed 256.

NZ earthquake kills 65

The death toll of the earthquake that hit the city of Christchurch, New Zealand at 12:51 local time is 65, according to PM John Key, the NZ Herald reported. It was expected to rise.

The Pyne Gould Guinness building in Cambridge Terrace collapsed and fire fighters were trying to free up to 30 trapped people, Radio New Zealand reported. Others are feared trapped elsewhere.

State of emergency declared after NZ quake

A state of emergency had been declared by Christchurch mayor Bob Parker following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that happened in New Zealand at 12:51, in a report by NZ Herald.

Eyewitness saw a score of dead bodies lying on the streets although official reports of casualties are not yet available.