The death toll from the magnitude-6.3 earthquake that hit New Zealand's Christchurch on Tuesday has climbed to 113, while 228 people are still missing, authorities confirmed on Friday.

The police said that more bodies were recovered overnight Thursday from buildings that collapsed in the earthquake.

New Zealand Civil Defense Minister John Carter said that in all, 70 people had been rescued alive from collapsed buildings since the earthquake struck, but the last successful rescue took place around 3:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Carter said 10 international search and rescue teams were on the ground, including a team from China. A team from the United States was expected to arrive later on Friday.

But finding more survivors from the collapsed buildings in Christchurch is becoming less and less likely, he said.

Carter said of those injured in the quake, 164 were admitted to hospital, and 11 were in intensive care.

A field hospital from Australia is expected to be put into operation by lunchtime Friday.