Christchurch earthquake: Death toll increases to 165

Members of the New Zealand Urban Search and Rescue Team examine Christchurch Cathedral. Photo / Getty Images

The death toll from last week's devastating Christchurch earthquake now stands at 165, police said this morning.

Two more bodies were recovered from the CTV building site yesterday.

However police are now looking at revising the estimated toll of over 200 people, which was "highly likely" to come down after the Christchurch cathedral was searched and no bodies were found.

An estimated 22 bodies were thought to have been in the cathedral.

- NZPA