Rescue operation underway in 'devastated' New Zealand town

About 1,000 tourists and hundreds of residents in Kaikoura, New Zealand, are stranded after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake early Monday caused mud and debris to block roads.

"From all directions, Kaikoura has essentially been isolated," Air Commodore Darryn Webb, acting commander of New Zealand's Joint Forces, told The Associated Press. "There's a real imperative to support the town because it can't support itself." Kaikoura is home to 2,000 people, and is a tourist destination for those wanting to whale watch or take in the scenery. The quake, centered 57 miles northeast of Christchurch, left two dead and triggered a small tsunami, and there are still strong aftershocks shaking the country.

Some people have been ferried out of the coastal town, and a Navy ship is on its way from Auckland to pick up more; it is expected to arrive Wednesday morning. The military is using helicopters to airlift 18 passengers out at a time. The temblor cut off Kaikoura's water supplies and sewage systems, and if necessary, a military transport plane will drop off food, water, fuel, and other supplies. Prime Minister John Key flew over Kaikoura and said the town was "devastated," with cars turned over and the roads impassable. He estimated it could cost billions of dollars and take several months to clear debris from the blocked roads.

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