Quake death toll climbs to 172

2:59 pm on 7 April 2011

Police have identified another victim of the Christchurch earthquake, bringing the total death toll to 172.

The woman identified is Weiyu Zhang, 30, of China.

On Wednesday police identified Hiroko Tamano, 43, of Japan, as having died when the CTV building collapsed in the central city after the 6.3-magnitude quake on 22 February.

There are still nine people missing, presumed dead, who are yet to be formally identified.

Superintendent Dave Cliff says the team of 27 police staff working in the disaster victim identification team will be scaled down over the next few weeks.