New Zealand quake: Airlift to evacuate tourists

Wellington, Nov 15: A helicopter airlift was underway on Tuesday to ferry at least 1,000 tourists out of a New Zealand township that was cut off in Monday’s deadly earthquake. Air force helicopters were set to join dozens of private aircraft to fly emergency supplies into the tourist town of Kaikoura, on the northeast of the South Island, and to fly out stranded travellers, Xinhua reported citing Radio New Zealand. All roads into Kaikoura, a popular tourist destition famed for its coastal scenery and whale-watching activities, were blocked by landslides in the 7.5-magnitude quake struck just after Sunday midnight. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said Monday it was sending the vy supply ship HMNZS Canterbury to help evacuate tourists and residents from Kaikoura and bring aid supplies to quake-affected areas.  (IANS)