PM meets families of quake victims

Prime Minister John Key speaking and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker at a press conference. Photo / NZPA

Prime Minister John Key has met people "full of fear" over the fate of missing family members after Tuesday's Christchurch quake.

After meeting the families at a packed out auditorium in the city, he said it was clear the country was dealing with very difficult circumstances.

He had met with one man who had lost his wife, home and business.

"That is the magnitude of the loss that some New Zealanders are suffering, that's the reason that we're seeing such an outpouring of support for people here in Christchurch," he told reporters.

Most of the families had a good idea of where their relatives had been during the quake, which included devastated central city buildings like the Canterbury Television (CTV) building and the Christchurch catheral.

"They're full of fear because they recognise that a significant period of time has lapsed.

"Some of them had their loved ones in the CTV building, and on the best advice we can possibly have, we don't think it's possible that anyone could have survived what has taken place at that building.

"But they also hold on to the hope that there's a chance that somebody in one of the other sites can come out alive."

Mr Key once again expressed gratitude for the international assistance that Christchurch was receiving, and reiterated that the Government was doing everything it could to assist those overseas that had lost people in the quake.

He asked that all of New Zealand to observe two minutes' silence from 12.51pm on Tuesday - exactly one week after the 6.3 earthquake - as a sign of unity for its victims.

"This may be New Zealand's single most tragic event," he said.

"I am calling on all New Zealanders to stop and remember those who have lost their lives, those who are missing, and the hundreds of people who are mourning family and friends.

"At 12.51pm this Tuesday, the 1st of March, I am asking that New Zealand stops for two minutes as a sign of unity for the people of Canterbury who are enduring a tragedy beyond what most of us can imagine."

The death toll was raised this afternoon to 145 with more than 200 listed as missing.

- NZPA