Three more names released - confirmed death toll 159

2 March, 2011 - 10:52

Police this morning confirmed the names of three more people who died in the Christchurch earthquake:

• Jayden ANDREWS-HOWLAND, aged 14, from Aranui, Christchurch

• Paul Clarence DUNLOP, aged 67, from Rolleston, Selwyn District

• Andrew Stephen COCHRANE, (Stephen) aged 43, from Bromley, Christchurch.

Canterbury District Commander, Superintendent Dave Cliff says more names are expected to be released in the near future.

The number of confirmed dead has risen to 159, with four bodies recovered overnight.

Conditions overnight have not been ideal for rescue teams, with strong winds picking up and blowing dust around.

Two hundred and ten staff are working in the Disaster Victim Identification process, he said.

Police are continuing to support local communities with nearly 100 officers on community patrols each shift.

There were three earthquake-related incidents overnight.

Two people were caught trying to break into an earthquake-damaged bar in the New Brighton area, and one person was arrested for breaching the cordon.

In addition, a patrol encountered suspicious behaviour which resulted in two arrests and a quantity of jewellery being recovered.

Superintendent Cliff said traffic continues to cause difficulties for everyone.

"Our plea is for people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary - and let the emergency services and repair crew get on with rebuilding our city."

He asked people to be patient about returning to the central city and said planning was underway for a staged return.

In the meantime, the CBD remains a highly unstable environment, and Police need to protect public safety through controlled access, he said.

ENDS

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