Note: There will be a media briefing at 12.30 today with Inspector Derek ERASMUS. Please meet at the Johns Road Crematoria. If conditions are conducive, media will be taken as close to the scene as possible.
Recovery of the victims has begun and the bodies will be taken to Christchurch Hospital for formal identification by the police Disaster Victim Identification unit.
It is believed that all next of kin have now been notified however names will not be released until formal identification has taken place. It is hoped that this may occur later today.