Hiroko Tamano

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Hiroko Tamano, of Japan, was in Kobe 15 years ago when a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck, killing 6400 people.

Her apartment building was flattened, but she continued to work as a nurse.

On February 22, 2011, the 43-year-old was working towards a New Zealand nursing licence and attending the King's Education language school in the CTV building when the magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck.

Her death was confirmed by police on April 6, 2011.

Language student Kenji Tatsuda, who had met Hiroko, said she had told him she was planning to work with terminally ill patients after gaining her nursing registration here.

Hiroko had been living in Christchurch for nearly three years, he said.