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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/nov/15/new-zealand-earthquake-floods-wellington-kaikoura
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| New Zealand earthquake: floods hit Wellington, as thousands still trapped – live | New Zealand earthquake: floods hit Wellington, as thousands still trapped – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.17am GMT | |
| 00:17 | |
| 34 people airlifted from Kaikoura today | |
| The ministry of civil defence and emergency management (MCDEM) has just held a press briefing. | |
| Sarah Stuart-Black, director of civil defence, told reporters that damage has been reported to properties in the South and North islands. | |
| She said aftershocks will continue and “could be close to the same size [as Sunday’s] … and could in fact be bigger”. | |
| The number of confirmed deaths still stands at two, and while there are no exact figures on the numbers injured, Stuart-Black said “casualties have been small levels of minor injuries”. | |
| She asked New Zealanders to “continue to look after each other”. | |
| The greatest challenge for civil defence is the logistics to reach stranded communities with no road access, she said, while stressing that there was “good aerial support” for Kaikoura, the HMNZS Canterbury is on its way. | |
| Stuart-Black said the first priority for Kaikoura is water supply: more is being transported in today and the fire service is taking in a water treatment plant. | |
| The transfer of supplies has so far been mainly through helicopter air support; Canterbury will be delivering larger loads, as well as evacuating tourists and locals who want to leave. | |
| By midday on Tuesday, 34 people had been airlifted out, including some relocated for medical reasons. The airlifts will continue: | |
| With the amount of helicopter trips, we’ll be able to get quite a number of people out today. | |
| Some locals in Kaikoura have taken tourists into their homes, she said. | |
| 11.53pm GMT | |
| 23:53 | |
| Evacuations in Wellington region | |
| In Wellington, pounded by heavy rains and strong winds in the wake of the quakes, roads – including state highways – are flooded, leaving the capital city effectively cut off. | |
| Residents in the Hutt Valley region of Wellington are being evacuated from their homes after the Waiwhetu Stream broke its banks. | |
| Flooding closes major routes in and out of #Wellington with motorists warned to stay off the roads https://t.co/EwjsO0OtIH pic.twitter.com/w0KXARQevz | |
| Some Lower Hutt properties are being evacuated due to flooding on the Waiwhetu Stream. We'll have the latest weather news on our show 2night pic.twitter.com/1va1iWwl09 | |
| 11.42pm GMT | 11.42pm GMT |
| 23:42 | 23:42 |
| Radio NZ reports that 40 tourists have been flown out of Kaikoura by military helicopter. | Radio NZ reports that 40 tourists have been flown out of Kaikoura by military helicopter. |
| But with hundreds still waiting, it could take up to four days to get everyone out. | But with hundreds still waiting, it could take up to four days to get everyone out. |
| UPDATE || One of our Seasprite helicopters is also heading south to assist in the earthquake evacuation // #eqnz #Kaikoura #earthquake pic.twitter.com/RbcVZhUC2a | UPDATE || One of our Seasprite helicopters is also heading south to assist in the earthquake evacuation // #eqnz #Kaikoura #earthquake pic.twitter.com/RbcVZhUC2a |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.43pm GMT | at 11.43pm GMT |
| 11.37pm GMT | 11.37pm GMT |
| 23:37 | 23:37 |
| Meanwhile, the aftershocks continue, this just a few minutes ago near the beleaguered town of Kaikoura: | Meanwhile, the aftershocks continue, this just a few minutes ago near the beleaguered town of Kaikoura: |
| M3.6 quake causing light shaking near Kaikoura https://t.co/9YOnwvj7e1 | M3.6 quake causing light shaking near Kaikoura https://t.co/9YOnwvj7e1 |
| 11.32pm GMT | 11.32pm GMT |
| 23:32 | 23:32 |
| My colleague Eleanor Ainge Roy is in Hanmer Springs, close to the epicentre of the quake. | My colleague Eleanor Ainge Roy is in Hanmer Springs, close to the epicentre of the quake. |
| She sends this latest on the situation in Kaikoura: | She sends this latest on the situation in Kaikoura: |
| The town has two days of clean water supplies after the council’s water tank sustained major damage. Helicopters are flying in water bladders and engineers to try to re-establish a clean supply. | The town has two days of clean water supplies after the council’s water tank sustained major damage. Helicopters are flying in water bladders and engineers to try to re-establish a clean supply. |
| People in Kaikoura have been told to urgently conserve the existing supply and use it for drinking only. Food and fuel resources are also low, though local restaurants and residents have donated much of their own stores to the relief effort, including seafood and crayfish. | People in Kaikoura have been told to urgently conserve the existing supply and use it for drinking only. Food and fuel resources are also low, though local restaurants and residents have donated much of their own stores to the relief effort, including seafood and crayfish. |
| The local marae (Maori meeting house) cooked and served meals for up to 700 people on Monday, Radio NZ reported, and planned to do the same again on Tuesday. | The local marae (Maori meeting house) cooked and served meals for up to 700 people on Monday, Radio NZ reported, and planned to do the same again on Tuesday. |
| The New Zealand Transport Authority said it was working with contractors to urgently clear an inland route to the town in the coming days, though their efforts have been hampered by frequent aftershocks – up to 800 since the quake, according to GeoNet. | The New Zealand Transport Authority said it was working with contractors to urgently clear an inland route to the town in the coming days, though their efforts have been hampered by frequent aftershocks – up to 800 since the quake, according to GeoNet. |
| The New Zealand military dispatched helicopters from Wellington, and HMNZS Canterbury left Auckland on Monday night stocked with relief supplies. Its journey south was slowed by severe weather and rough seas. | The New Zealand military dispatched helicopters from Wellington, and HMNZS Canterbury left Auckland on Monday night stocked with relief supplies. Its journey south was slowed by severe weather and rough seas. |
| “From all directions Kaikoura has essentially been isolated,” said Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the acting commander of New Zealand’s joint forces. “There’s a real imperative to support the town because it can’t support itself.” | “From all directions Kaikoura has essentially been isolated,” said Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the acting commander of New Zealand’s joint forces. “There’s a real imperative to support the town because it can’t support itself.” |
| Webb said the military planned to begin using four NH90 helicopters that could each transport about 18 people out of the town at a time. | Webb said the military planned to begin using four NH90 helicopters that could each transport about 18 people out of the town at a time. |
| “We’re going to get as many people and belongings out as quickly as we can,” Webb said. | “We’re going to get as many people and belongings out as quickly as we can,” Webb said. |
| It was estimated HMNZS Canterbury may be able to reach Kaikoura by lunchtime on Wednesday. | It was estimated HMNZS Canterbury may be able to reach Kaikoura by lunchtime on Wednesday. |
| 11.24pm GMT | 11.24pm GMT |
| 23:24 | 23:24 |
| A major relief effort is currently underway to reach thousands of people still stranded in the wake of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that has left roads blocked across parts of the South and North islands. | A major relief effort is currently underway to reach thousands of people still stranded in the wake of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that has left roads blocked across parts of the South and North islands. |
| Military helicopters and a navy ship have been dispatched to rescue about 1,000 tourists, along with residents, who are stuck in the coastal town of Kaikoura, South Island, which has been cut off from land access. | Military helicopters and a navy ship have been dispatched to rescue about 1,000 tourists, along with residents, who are stuck in the coastal town of Kaikoura, South Island, which has been cut off from land access. |
| Meanwhile, torrential rain and gale-forced winds have hampered the relief efforts and further disrupted life for many New Zealanders, with the capital, Wellington, flooded. | Meanwhile, torrential rain and gale-forced winds have hampered the relief efforts and further disrupted life for many New Zealanders, with the capital, Wellington, flooded. |
| We’ll have all the latest news here as the day unfolds. | We’ll have all the latest news here as the day unfolds. |
| If you’re affected by the aftermath of the earthquake, please do contact us in the comments below or you can reach me directly on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. | If you’re affected by the aftermath of the earthquake, please do contact us in the comments below or you can reach me directly on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. |