Concerns remain over two Irish people missing after New Zealand earthquake

A total of 98 people have now been confirmed dead with hundreds more fatalities expected in Christchurch.

THERE ARE STILL ’strong concerns’ over the safety of two Irish people in New Zealand following Tuesday’s earthquake which has already claimed the life of one Irish person.

The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday confirmed the death of one Irishman who has been named by RTE as Owen McKenna, in his mid-40s, from Co Monaghan.

The Irish Consul General in New Zealand Rodney Walshe told TheJournal.ie yesterday morning that as well as McKenna another Irish person had been killed in the quake.

The DFA did not confirm this but say this morning that there are strong concerns for two people still missing with a further seven Irish people still unable to be contacted.

A total of 98 people have now been confirmed dead in the earthquake with 226 people still missing, according to the BBC.

Hopes are now fading of finding survivors under c0llapsed buildings.

The New Zealand Herald reports that two babies, both less than a year old, are amongst the dead. Up to 120 people are feared dead following the collapse of the Canterbury Television building.