In Pictures

In Pictures: Christchurch residents pay tribute to victims

Death toll from Friday’s shootings rises to 50; authorities order digging of graves to bury those killed in the attack.

Samoan church members sing next to floral tributes in Christchurch on March 17, 2019, two days after a shooting incident at two mosques in the city. — At a makeshift memorial in Christchurch, a steady stream of people laid flowers and lit candles, some standing quietly, others crying or visibly distressed. [Marty Melville/AFP]

Christchurch residents have paid tribute to victims of the mosque attacks as families waited for authorities to release the bodies for burials on Sunday.

The death toll in the New Zealand mosque shootings rose to 50 after police found another body in one of the mosques.

An overwhelmed hospital was forced to delay surgeries as it struggled to cope with the sheer number of wounded.

Thirty-four people were still in Christchurch Hospital with 12 in critical condition and one child was moved to a dedicated children’s hospital in Auckland.

As Christchurch’s Muslim community reels from the devastating attack, city officials ordered digging of graves for the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s modern history.

New Zealanders have responded to the attacks with an outpouring of interfaith solidarity – crowdfunding millions of dollars, donating halal food and even offering to accompany local Muslims now scared to walk the streets.

A woman who lost her husband during Friday''s mass shootings cries outside an information center for families, Saturday, March 16, 2019, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) — A woman, who lost her husband in the mosque attacks, cries outside an information centre for families. At least 50 people have been killed and more than 40 wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. [Vincent Thian/AP]

Flowers and signs are pictured at a memorial as a tribute to victims of the mosque attacks, near a police line outside Masjid Al Noor in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva — The majority of victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia and Afghanistan. [Jorge Silva/Reuters]

A message card is placed at a collection of flowers left at the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 16, 2019. New Zealand''s stricken residents reached out to Muslims in the — A card is placed at the memorial at the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch. Muslims account for about one percent of New Zealand's population. [Vincent Thian/AP]

A girl walk to lay flowers on a wall at the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, Sunday, March 17, 2019. New Zealand''s stricken residents reached out to Muslims in their neighborhoods and a — A girl lays flowers at the Botanical Gardens memorial in Christchurch on Sunday. At least 36 were still receiving treatment at hospitals, with 12 in critical condition. [Vincent Thian/AP]

Workers dig grave sites at a cemetery in Christchurch on March 17, 2019 two days after a shooting incident at two mosques in the city. - New Zealanders flocked to memorial sites to lay flowers and mou — Excavators were called in on Saturday to dig graves for the dead. The police will start handing over the bodies to families for burials from Sunday night. [Marty Melville/AFP]

A police officer stands guard in front of the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Sunday, March 17, 2019, where one of the two mass shootings occurred. New Zealand''s stricken residents — A police officer stands guard in front of the Al Noor mosque. [Vincent Yu/AP]

This hand out picture taken by Salty Dingo and released by the New South Wales (NSW) Government on March 17, 2019 shows the sails of the Sydney Opera House seen lit with the design of New Zealand''s si — The Sydney Opera House lit with the design of New Zealand's silver fern in a show of solidarity with victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks. [Salty Dingo/State of New South Wales/AFP]