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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Two UK dead in New Zealand quake | Two UK dead in New Zealand quake |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two Britons died in the earthquake that devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch, the Foreign Office says. | Two Britons died in the earthquake that devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch, the Foreign Office says. |
| They are among 98 victims whose bodies were taken to a temporary mortuary and their next of kin have been informed. No other details are available. | |
| The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 5km (3.1 miles) early in the afternoon on Tuesday. About 226 people are still missing. | |
| It was Christchurch's second major tremor in five months. | It was Christchurch's second major tremor in five months. |
| The authorities in the South Island city say they are still carrying out a rescue operation and specialists are hunting for signs of life. | |
| 'Always a chance' | |
| A British search-and-rescue team has recently landed in Christchurch, joining others from the US, Japan and Australia. | A British search-and-rescue team has recently landed in Christchurch, joining others from the US, Japan and Australia. |
| Its spokesman, Peter Crook, told the BBC his specialist unit was hoping to find survivors. | Its spokesman, Peter Crook, told the BBC his specialist unit was hoping to find survivors. |
| "We're two-and-a-half days into the earthquake now so that's when the window is starting to close for the most common rescues," he said. | "We're two-and-a-half days into the earthquake now so that's when the window is starting to close for the most common rescues," he said. |
| "There is always a chance and the rescue effort will keep going for several days yet. | "There is always a chance and the rescue effort will keep going for several days yet. |
| "History tells us that people can get rescued from the deepest, hardest places to find, sometimes five, six, seven, eight days after the earthquake." | "History tells us that people can get rescued from the deepest, hardest places to find, sometimes five, six, seven, eight days after the earthquake." |
| He said the 65-strong team was drawn from 13 different fire services in the UK and they had brought a "planeload" of heavy rescue equipment. | |
| "The teams that have been here for several days are now getting very exhausted so we're effectively going to come in and release some of those teams," he added. | |
| Helplines | |
| The Foreign Office has set up a crisis centre at a hotel near Christchurch airport to issue emergency passports and help its citizens escape the quake zone. | |
| "We have a large consular team on the ground, including our High Commissioner to New Zealand, Vicki Treadell, who are providing full consular assistance to any British nationals that require it," a spokesman said. | |
| "The High Commission in Wellington has been reinforced with additional staff, and we stand ready to send further reinforcements from our posts in the region if required." | |
| A hotline - 020 7008 8765 - has been set up for concerned friends and relatives in the UK. | |
| British nationals in New Zealand are advised to call 049 242 898 for advice and assistance. The Foreign Office website has more information about the consular assistance being provided. |