Information about South Africans affected by the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Tuesday would be made available as soon as possible, the department of international relations and co-operation said.
“We will make the information public as and when new information becomes available,” department spokesman Clayson Monyela said.
He advised family members in South Africa to get in touch with the department's consular section on 012-351-1000 if they need information on the situation.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of New Zealand following the earthquake in Christchurch and hope that the authorities would be able to rise to the occasion,” said Monyela.
Sixty-five people were reported dead and 200 people were believed to be trapped in buildings in the city centre of Christchurch in one of the country's worst natural disasters.
Christchurch is the country's second largest city and has about 350 000 residents, many of whom emigrated from South Africa to settle there.
It was the second major quake to hit the city in five months.
The 6.3 magnitude earthquake caused far more destruction than the more powerful September 2010 quake. - Sapa