Survivors describe the horror of quake's aftermath

Devastated teenagers Kent and Libby Manning after being told there was no hope of finding their mother alive in a collapsed building in Christchurch

Craig MacIntosh, 22, said he and his wife Tamara were lucky to be alive following the quake which has devastated the local community.

The former Tynecastle High pupil, originally from Chesser, has been living in the country for four years. He said: "My wife is finding it hard, especially this time as it hit during the day when she was meant to be at the gym and I was heading over towards Lyttelton (one of the worst-affected areas] with work."

"Had it not been for us having a late lunch things might have been different."

Rescuers were today continuing to sift through the ruins in the city, looking for survivors after the magnitude 6.3 quake at around 1pm on Tuesday.

Some 300 people are still missing, although it is not known how many are trapped under collapsed buildings.

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker confirmed 120 people were rescued from wrecked buildings as teams worked through the night, while more bodies were also recovered. Officials have warned that the death toll could rise above 200.

The British High Commission said it had received no information as yet of any British casualties but reports today suggest the Foreign Office fears as many as ten Britons could be among the dead.

Mr MacIntosh moved to New Zealand after a back-packing trip, and lives in Bishopdale, just ten minutes from the centre of Christchurch.

He described the moment the quake hit: "My wife and I had finished lunch in the house, just before 1pm, when there was a violent shake which kept getting stronger.

"I yelled for Tamara to get outside while I was running from the bedroom to the back door. While we were outside there was an aftershock which was strong enough to move my work truck - weighing three tonnes - back and forth.

"The scenes from the town were horrific. We heard that people were in the tower of the cathedral when it collapsed."

Amanda Fiddes, another Edinburgh local who now lives in Christchurch, said she found her daughter in the central square of the city when the aftershocks struck. She said: "I was standing there in the middle of cathedral square and at that point the cathedral fell down. A massive turret fell down."

It took her hours to get home and she said: "I've never seen so many people hurt.It was like driving through a war zone."

Musselburgh resident Janice Marshall, whose son Iain, 26, works near the centre of Christchurch said he and his workmates had to dive under their desks before evacuating the office.

Former Edinburgh rugby coach Todd Blackadder was taking a training session with his Crusaders team and his players had to flee the showers and swimming pool wrapped in towels as the quake hit.

The earthquake is the country's worst natural disaster since a 7.8 magnitude tremor killed 256 people in the city of Napier more than 80 years ago.

Scotland cricketer Steve Knox was today anxiously awaiting news of former colleagues who he fears have been caught up in the Christchurch earthquake.

The Heriot's club batsman has spent seven of the past nine winters playing in Christchurch at the St Albans club.

Mr Knox said: "I e-mailed some friends at the cricket club. I haven't heard anything back.

"I am certainly hoping to put my mind at rest soon."

Left feeling so shocked and helpless

Evening News journalist and New Zealander Carla Gray on her country's 'darkest day'

There are few things that can compete with the shock and panic that grips you when you wake up to news of a natural disaster in your homeland, especially when you've moved to the other side of the world.

However, if there is an emotion that comes in a close second, it would be the utter helplessness experienced as you scroll through pictures of flattened buildings, bloody faces and general devastation.

They showed rescuers picking through the rubble of some of Christchurch's most treasured sites, including the now steeple-less cathedral, looking for survivors.

If you want to imagine what that sight was like for a New Zealander, picture Edinburgh Castle lying completely demolished.

Thankfully, many of my loved ones have been able to get in touch quickly through social networking sites which have been relied upon heavily by people searching for family members and sharing information from local authorities.

New Zealand has been told to brace itself for many more deaths. This, in a city that's still recovering from a massive earthquake less than six months ago. But it's at times like this that the resilient nature of the local community is revealed, and it's this that I'm sure will come to the fore in the weeks and months to come.

AN Irishman and a Briton have died in the New Zealand earthquake, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Both men had been living in Christchurch.

The department said it has strong concerns about two other Irish citizens believed to have been in the Christchurch area when the powerful 6.3-magnitude tremor struck.

The Irishman was originally from the border county of Monaghan and had a young family. The Briton is married to an Irishwoman, the department added.

Rodney Walshe, Ireland's honorary counsel in New Zealand said both families have been informed.

"Families know, I have spoken with both families. They're all aware of the situation," he said.