NZ rescuers pull out more dead from debris, toll up to 113

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Feb 25 (PTI) Rescuers pulled out more
bodies from the debris in their grim search for the missing in
a quake-devastated Christchurch where death toll mounted to
113, and incidents of theft and looting were also reported.
Rescue work was in full swing for the 228 missing
people in Tuesday's 6.5 magnitude earthquake that shook the
New Zealand city and brought down many buildings.
There were little signs of life as rescue workers
sifted through the rubble, and found more and more dead bodies
taking the toll to 113.
"These are very, very dark days for New Zealand,"
Prime Minister John Key said as hopes for finding more
survivors faded with time.
"We need a bit a bit of luck to try and find a few
people that may still have survived this earthquake and are
still trapped in those buildings," he told Radio New Zealand.
Latest reports from the scene said that people were
allegedly posing as officials, stealing and looting in the
quake-struck Christchurch, amidst the tragedy.
Police said crime was becoming an increasing problem
for authorities on the ground.
Around 300 Australian police officers are working
across the city and trying to bring the rising rates of theft
and domestic violence under control and Australians could be
among the arrested.
Reports said that at least two Australian nationals
have been presenting themselves to the fire service as both
search and rescue staff and disaster victim identification
personnel.
Canterbury Police nightshift supervisor Russell Gibson
said such opportunists were the "lowest of the low".
"We've had more and more reports of people with pseudo
professional clothing, clipboards, vests and hard hats going
door to door asking about appliances inside," the officer
said.
"When they've been approached they haven't passed
muster and they've disappeared. I can only surmise that those
people are there with dishonourable intentions. Whether it was
just ghoulish curiosity or an elaborate theft plan I don't
know," he said.
He also urged locals to demand to see identification,
saying "For goodness sake, check who they are, who they're
working for and why they're there".
He said looting in vacant homes was becoming a
significant problem, with a few arrests made and many more to
come.
Gibson also expressed apprehension that suicides may
rise too in the aftermath of the calamity.
"We haven't seen that yet. We really hope Christchurch
residents don't let it get that bad," he said. (MORE) PTI