New Zealand quake toll rises to 113 dead [February 25 2011]

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – Relatives of people still missing three days after an earthquake shattered the New Zealand city of Christchurch arrived Friday from several countries to join an anxious vigil for news that looked increasingly likely to be grim. The official death toll continued to climb, to 113, and officials said rescue teams had pulled nothing but bodies from the rubble of collapsed buildings for 48 hours. Foreign Minister Murry McCully said the government was preparing to give family members from several countries "the worst type of news."

An English language school was in one of the hardest-hit buildings, the CTV office block, and students from Japan, China, the Philippines and other nations are believed to be among those inside when it collapsed. Police say up to 120 bodies are still inside and that no one is expected to have survived. Many relatives of the missing arrived at Christchurch airport on Friday, including about 20 from Japan, who were quickly whisked onto a bus by embassy officials. The school posted an open invitation to friends and families of those missing to a meeting today with Police and school officials.  

In the arrivals hall, Danny Campos, 27, waited for his uncles flight from Australia. The family is original from Peru and Campos aunt, Elsa Torres, was a translator at the language school and is among the missing. Were "hoping that shes alive, but unfortunately, we just have to sit down and wait," he said.