New Zealand: Texts and calls from under the rubble to anguished parents

The first text message said: "Mommy, I got buried." About 40 minutes later: "Mommy, I can't move my right hand." Then, a brief call from New Zealand's earthquake rubble to parents pleading to send help.

After another harrowing hour in a crumpled building, when she sent a half-dozen more texts about increasing pain, continued shaking and overwhelming smoke, came the final one: "Please make it quick."

That was the last the Amantillo family heard from 23-year-old student Louise Amantillo, from the Philippines, who is among dozens of foreigners missing after their language school in the CTV building collapsed.

"Her voice was shaking, like she was really scared. I know she was in pain," said her mother, Linda Amantillo, who hoped her daughter was still alive three days later.

The King's Education language school catered for students from Japan, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Korea.

"There will be families receiving the worst kind of news in the next few days," foreign minister Murray McCully said yesterday.

"This is not just New Zealand's tragedy."