Death toll 'may rise' as Christchurch residents tell of suffering and debris

Eyewitnesses have been telling of scenes of suffering and damage following the 6.3-level earthquake in New Zealand, which killed at least 65 people.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand says the death toll from an earthquake in the city of Christchurch may rise. Up to 200 people are still trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Because the quake struck at lunchtime, the streets and shops were crowded.

Mary Dunne, who is from Letterkenny in Co Donegal, is living in Christchurch. Her home was destroyed by the earthquake.

"I was literally thrown from one end of the room to the other," she said.

Neva Clarke was in the foyer of Christchurch town hall in the city centre when the quake struck. She said there was dust and smoke everywhere, and saw windows shattering.

"It threw me to my knees. It was absolutely frightening and seemed to go on forever," she said.

Darren Bevan, originally from Somerset in Britain and now living in New Zealandm, said he had been trying to contact friends and family in Christchurch.

"There are probably about 2,000 people who are in a park who don't have anywhere to go tonight," he said. "They can't go back to their homes. They can’t leave the city because the roads are just devastated and broken."

Tim Ireland, who is from Britain, was in the city at the time of the quake for a tennis competition and said: "The ground started to shake very aggressively. Cracks appeared..It was pretty scary."

He saw a large building "shake like a paper building".

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has now activated its Consular Crisis Centre for those concerned about friends and family in New Zealand.

The dedicated number is 01 4180222.

An estimated 1,000 Irish people live in Christchurch.

Staff at its honorary consulate in New Zealand and the Irish Embassy in Canberra are urgently liaising with New Zealand government officials, local authorities and the emergency services in the affected area.