Christchurch earthquake: 90 from language school missing

A rescue worker looks for any signs of life in the rubble of the CTV building. Photo / Simon Baker

Ninety students and staff from King's Education Ltd, housed in Christchurch's earthquake-ravaged Canterbury TV building, are either missing or unaccounted for.

Of those nine were staff -- King's Education managing director Brian Taylor among them -- 10 were from the Toyama Study Group from Japan, 13 were "new Monday starters" and 58 were "other students", according to the institution's website.

The school specialises in teaching English to international students.

Six of the 15 staff at the school had been accounted for, 11 students from Toyama Study Group had been rescued and 17 of the "other students" were safe.

Many of the rescued students had injuries and were in Christchurch Hospital, with one transferred to Auckland Hospital.

King's Education was opened in 1994 and in its last NZQA audit achieved a rating which put it in the top 5 per cent of New Zealand's English language providers.

Fifteen Canterbury TV (CTV) staff were also believed to be trapped in the building, which collapsed after Tuesday's magnitude 6.3 quake, CTV chairman Nick Smith said.

Four Filipino nurses were also believed to be trapped.

Searchers were still looking for survivors in the devastated Canterbury TV and Pyne Gould Corporation buildings.

A list of which students and staff from King's Education were missing is available here.

- NZPA