The number of victims of last February's earthquake in Christchurch has risen to 184.
Three of the five deaths referred to the coroner following the devastating quake were deemed to be directly related to the quake, it was announced yesterday.
Elizabeth Sinclair, 76, Pamela Christina Barkle, 72, and Reta Stewart, 81, were added to the official list of 181 victims, bringing the total to 184, Fairfax reported.
All of the deceased had died at least one day after the February 22 quake hit.
Ms Sinclair suffered hip injuries during the quake and later contracted pneumonia from which never recovered. She died on March 9.
Coroner Gordon Matenga said Ms Barkle died from a "ruptured heart" caused by a fall during the quake.
Ms Stewart suffered injuries after being thrown to the ground at Windermere Rest Home and died at Christchurch Hospital the next day.
The February 6.3-magnitude quake, centred 2km west of Lyttelton, caused widespread destruction in Christchurch.
It followed nearly six months after a magnitude 7.1 quake on September 4, 2010.