No more bodies likely to be found in Christchurch

Emergency services remove a body from the site of the CTV building in central Christchurch. Photo / Sarah Ivey

It is unlikely more bodies will be found in quake-ravaged central Christchurch but the confirmed death toll is still expected to climb as the coroner works on identifying individuals from badly damaged remains, police say.

Superintendent Dave Cliff said at today's press conference it was "quite unlikely but not impossible" more bodies would be found in the quake-devastated central business district (CBD).

Police have released the names of 129 victims.

Authorities believe the death toll is likely to climb to 180, with the coroner and police working to identify individuals from the worst-damaged remains.

The process of "trying to link individual pieces of material back to one person" would take some time, he said.

Meanwhile, Civil Defence controller John Hamilton released a list of 21 heritage buildings which had been approved for "deconstruction". Of the 849 heritage buildings inspected, 340 had been given red stickers indicating they were unsafe to enter.

The grain silo at the historic flower mill in Addington Road, which was among the heritage buildings approved for deconstruction, was demolished today.

However, it was not all bad news, with Mr Hamilton saying the mill part of the complex - which was the most historically important - would be able to be repaired.

Mr Cliff said the recovery of vehicles within the CBD was going well, with nearly 750 recovered since Saturday.

People who had cars in parking buildings were warned to be patient as some of the structures had been damaged, he said.

With St Patrick's day on Thursday, Christchurch residents were again warned to go easy on the drink as alcohol-related violence and drunk-driving continued to pose a problem for police, particularly in the suburbs.

Police were also concerned about people being intoxicated if another large aftershock hit, he said.

"We want people to have their wits about them so they behave logically if there is an aftershock."

- NZPA