At least 2 dead in New Zealand earthquake; residents flee tsunami

TIL Desk/World/Christchurch-At least two people were killed and more fatalities were feared after a powerful 7.8 earthquake struck New Zealand on Monday, while residents in coastal areas fled following tsunami warnings. As dawn broke there was scant information from many rural villages in the South Island, which were isolated by landslips and fractured telephone communications as strong aftershocks continued for several hours.

Prime Minister John Key confirmed two people had died and said “we cannot rule out” that number will rise, nearly seven hours after the main quake. Police were trying to reach the scene of one fatality at a remote property 150 kilometres north of Christchurch while another person died in a historic homestead which collapsed at the nearby fishing village of Kaikoura.

“At this point we are unable to give precise details of what caused those fatalities,” Key said, adding that communication problems made it difficult to get information. Helicopters were taking officials workers to the worst-affected area, he said. “As soon as we can get a much better assessment of the actual damage then we can work out the next steps.” Soon after the earthquake, tsunami warning sirens were activated in South Island coastal towns and along the east coast of the North Island, with police and emergency workers going door to door to evacuate seaside properties.