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.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
August 31 editorial cartoonsCartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include FEMA's new scheme, Gavin Newsom's antics, and a clue in the Epstein files
-
Disarming Hezbollah: Lebanon's risky missionTalking Point Iran-backed militia has brought 'nothing but war, division and misery', but rooting them out for good is a daunting and dangerous task
-
Woof! Britain's love affair with dogsThe Explainer The UK's canine population is booming. What does that mean for man's best friend?
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
