Evacuations underway in quake-hit New Zealand
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CHRISTCHURCH: Rescuers in New Zealand on Tuesday began airlifting tourists stranded by a 7.8 earthquake that devastated parts of the South Island’s rugged coast, as a navy ship headed to the stricken area to help.
The military helicopters started ferrying the first of 1,200 tourists trapped in the seaside town of Kaikoura, which bore the brunt of the quake that claimed two lives when it struck early Monday. The officials said that the US and Japanese militaries would also help the relief effort.
Huge landslides have cut Kaikoura’s road and rail links, and the police said that water was running low, power was intermittent and hundreds of people were staying in evacuation shelters. The town has a population of 2,000, which Prime Minister John Key said was bolstered by an extra 1,200 tourists, mostly international backpackers attracted by the area’s popular whale-watching cruises.
Key said getting them out safely was top priority and four military
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