New Zealand officials say five more bodies have been pulled from the rubble by recovery teams in the shattered city of Christchurch, taking the death toll to 160.

Many more people remain missing, and the final tally is likely to be around 240. The massive clean up operation is now in its second week.

More than 900 people are working at sites across the southern city and clearing the debris.

Authorities have appealed for patience from families waiting for news of missing relatives, saying that the remains of some people who were caught in falling buildings only can be identified through DNA testing or dental records.