Updated 10.15am

THERE IS CONCERN for an Irish man trapped in a collapsed building in the New Zealand city of Christchurch that was hit by an earthquake earlier this week.

The Irish Consul General in New Zealand, Rodney Walshe, has confirmed to TheJournal.ie this morning that the man is amongst ten people who are believed to be alive but trapped in the collapsed Pyne Gould Guinness building with rescuers working to free them.

The man is said to be a permanent resident who worked in New Zealand. Walshe also reported that two Irish people had been found safe and well yesterday.

So far one Irish man has been confirmed dead following the quake. The Department of Foreign Affairs say they are seriously concerned about the man trapped in the Pyne Gould Guinness building, and one other person who they have no details about.

Owen McKenna from Co Monaghan has been confirmed dead following the quake which has so far claimed the lives of 98 people.

Another Irish person was feared dead yesterday but it later emerged that the man was British and was married to an Irish woman.

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