Christchurch quake death toll to exceed 200

GRIEVING New Zealanders mourned Christchurch earthquake victims yesterday as police said the disaster’s final death toll was set to exceed 200.

The number of confirmed fatalities from last Tuesday’s 6.3-magnitude quake reached 147, but police fear more than 50 still listed as “unaccounted for” lie dead in the rubble of New Zealand’s second largest city.

Asked if he expected a final toll of 200, district commander Dave Cliff relied: “Yes, and probably a little higher than that ultimately.”