Aftershocks rattle New Zealand’s South Island

• More than 800 aftershocks rattle the South Island
• Rescuers scrambling to evacuate 1000 tourists
• Quake expected to cost nation at least $2b
• Two people died
• Quake hit at 12.02am local time on Monday

The two beef cows and a calf were left stranded on an island of land near the New Zealand town of Kaikoura after the earth around them collapsed in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Monday.

One farmer told the newshub website they were rescued after farmers dug a track down and away from the elevated patch of grass.

“We managed to get a track in and bring them out,” he said.

“They desperately needed water, cows don’t like living without water so that was the first requirement.”

The farmer said the fault line ran underneath the farm and a number of cows had died during the earthquake.

“I think one or two had lost calves in the earthquake so they were a bit distressed.”

FLOODING HITS AFTER QUAKE AFTERSHOCKS

More than 800 aftershocks ­have rattled the South Island of New Zealand in the wake of a deadly and devastating earthquake that will cost the nation at least $2 billion.

Two people died and dozens were injured in the quake, one of the biggest in the country’s history, centred 15km northeast of Culverden in rural North Canterbury. Scientists said the quake had triggered 100,000 landslides in the island’s north.

Many people have attempted to return to work in the capital, Wellington, after the quake shut down much of the central city yesterday. But some buildings remained closed and heavy rain and flooding compounded the difficulties for others.

There are reports of fresh landslides affecting some houses, and, as the waters rise, Hunter Valley residents have been told to prepare to evacuate their homes.

Meanwhile, military helicopters and a navy ship are on their way to rescue about 1000 tourists and hundreds of residents who remain stranded in the coastal town of Kaikoura, as the Chinese government chartered a helicopter to get Chinese nationals out of the area.

Hutt Rd, Wellington

TOURISTS GET A LIFT

Home to about 2,000 residents, Kaikoura is a popular destination for travelers taking part in whale-watching expeditions or wanting a stopover with mountain views. But the quake knocked out water supplies and sewerage systems and left people with no easy way out.

“From all directions, Kaikoura has essentially been isolated,” Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Acting Commander of New Zealand’s Joint Forces, said. “There’s a real imperative to support the town because it can’t support itself.”

Webb said the military was using four NH90 helicopters that could each transport about 18 people at a time out of the town. He said the HMNZS Canterbury could potentially pick up hundreds of people if weather conditions allowed.

“We’re going to get as many people and belongings out as quickly as we can,” Webb said.

He said the operation could take several days and that if needed, a C-130 military transport plane could drop fuel, water, food and other supplies to the town.

Radio New Zealand reported up to 50 civilian helicopters would also be drafted into the rescue effort, evacuating tourists from local rugby grounds.

The HMNZS Canterbury set off from Auckland late yesterday and is expected to arrive in Kaikoura tomorrow. Commanding officer Simon Rooke said it could take up to 500 tourists.

“We’re going to pick them up by landing craft and sea boats and extract them to Lyttelton (in Christchurch) so they can get to a point of safety,” he said.

DAMAGE SURVEYED

Prime Minister John Key, who flew over stricken towns, and smashed highways and rail lines, said the cost of repairs would be “at least a couple of billion.” He said the damage was much worse than he feared, and that it would take months to repair.

“It’s just utter devastation,” Key said.

Battered State Highway One, which runs up the east coast, may be shut by landslides and huge cracks for at least a fortnight. Parts of the tarmac folded like paper, with trapped drivers rescued by helicopters.

AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE

The aftershocks continued all day, with three frightening ones of between 5.8 and 6 on the Richter scale, centred near Blenheim, hitting within an hour.

Earlier and further south near the original epicentre, a 6.5 aftershock was recorded.

Dr Mark Quigley, from the University of Melbourne, said that, for an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 to 7.8, several large aftershocks (greater than 6) are expected.

“For each magnitude 6 aftershock, we expect 10 more magnitude 5 aftershocks over the coming days and weeks,” he said.

Monday’s quake hit at 12.02am local time. A subsequent tsunami warning for most of the entire east coast of New Zealand prompted fearful thousands to leave their beds and head inland. Two-metre waves hit ­before the warning was lifted.

The largest landslide brought an estimated one million cubic metres of earth down on to the Clarence River, which was at one stage dammed by debris.

Civil Defence officials at first feared a killer “wall of water” hurtling downstream to the sea, threatening hamlets and farms, but their fears proved unfounded.

CITIES AT A STANDSTILL

Some buildings in Wellington, the capital, were severely damaged and its CBD was empty with offices and shops shut as workers were ­ordered to stay home.

Christchurch, 110km south of the epicentre, got off lightly, but the quake was said to be 50 times more powerful than the devastating 2011 tremor that killed 185 and levelled that city’s CBD, which is still being rebuilt. The light toll was because the epicentre was a rural area.

Looters targeted several homes north of Christchurch, left empty after residents heeded the tsunami warning.

But one family had its faith in human nature restored when their plight was posted on Facebook and $20,000 was pledged to them within hours by disgusted fellow Kiwis.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had phoned Mr Key to offer Australia’s support.

“He knows that we support the Kiwis and they support us when it comes to emergencies and natural disasters,” Mr Turnbull said.

A man died in a destroyed historic homestead in Kaikoura, but his 100-year-old mother was pulled from the rubble. A resident at a remote property 50km from the quake epicentre died of a heart attack.

Originally published as Stranded cows rescued after quake