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| HMNZS Canterbury (Image: Wiki Commons) |
WELLINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Military forces from four nations were carrying food and other emergency supplies in quake-ravaged Kaikoura, in New Zealand's South Island, Friday despite continued dangers from aftershocks and the unstable terrain.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) was leading deliveries by land, sea and air as it pulled out all stops to stave off a shortage of food, water and other basic necessities in the quake-damaged town.
Two people died and about 1,000 tourists were stranded in Monday's 7.8-magnitude quake, which wiped out all road and rail links into Kaikoura.
"We are using our maritime, land and air assets to achieve our immediate priority, which is to deliver essential supplies to affected communities," Major General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said in a statement.
Four maritime helicopters provided by Australia, Canada and the United States were helping offload about 216 tons of supplies from New Zealand navy supply ship HMNZS Canterbury, which had returned to Kaikoura, he said.
Read the full story at Xinhua