Monday’s massive quake blocked all road and rail access to the upper South Island town of Kaikoura. The only way in or out is by air or by sea.
There is roughly 3500 residents and 1000 tourists thought to be stranded in the area.
Four Air Force helicopters will fly out any one who wants to leave, and will also bring supplies into the town.
The Navy’s HMNZS Canterbury is due to arrive from Auckland this morning to provide further assistance.
Kaikoura is currently without sewerage or household water supply. Portaloos are being distributed, otherwise residents are encouraged to use a bucket or dig a hole.
It will take “at least a couple of days” to restore road access to the town.
It was another sleepless night for many residents in the upper South Island with hundreds of aftershocks rumbling through the area since Monday’s massive quake.
There have been more than 300 aftershocks since 7pm Monday night, and more than 830 since the magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck just after midnight on Monday morning
Prime Minister, John Key, said the cost of the clean up would run into the billions of dollars.
9 Responses
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That is so so SOOO so sad, people were killed in those quakes! Who on earth would put “Funny news” and “Great News”????? Imagine if it was our family who was killed!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁
That is scary and freaky
wow
half my family was in it but none of them were hurt.
man that earthquake rocked the entire new zealand heven hamilton shaked a little
this is scary
I find it sad that everyone is focusing on the tourist location of Kaikoura, yet no one is worried about a small town the closest to the epicentre called Waiau, much closer to the epicentre and in need of serious support, but help didn’t come for 3 days! Everyone was much more focused on the larger, well known cities and towns.
that was so scary!!