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Multinational naval fleet gathering at New Zealand quake zone

Xinhua, November 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Navy vessels from several countries were anchoring off a quake-stricken New Zealand township Wednesday as the evacuation of stranded tourists and residents stepped up.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) evacuated around 200 people from the tourist town of Kaikoura Tuesday and helicopter evacuations would resume early Wednesday, with inward flights bringing in supplies, Civil Defence emergency management director Sarah Stuart-Black said Wednesday.

A national relief support effort was continuing today to support people affected by Monday's deadly 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Kaikoura, on the northeast of the South Island.

New Zealand offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington would survey the harbor area at Kaikoura to find a suitable area for supply ship HMNZS Canterbury to begin evacuating people.

New Zealand frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and U.S. Navy destroyer USS Sampson were also en route to provide support, said Stuart-Black.

Tanker ship HMNZS Endeavour was also on its way to Kaikoura.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the support of nations attending the International Naval Review to mark the 75th anniversary of the New Zealand navy this month.

The New Zealand Defence Force had accepted offers of help from the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan and Singapore, Brownlee said in a statement late Tuesday.

The USS Sampson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, would deploy two MH60 helicopters to help as required and the United States had also offered a P-3 Orion for surveillance flights.

The Australian Defence Force has diverted frigate HMAS Darwin from its planned participation in the International Naval Review and it was expected to arrive off the Kaikoura coast late Wednesday and deploy its Seahawk helicopter from offshore.

Canada was sending frigate HMCS Vancouver.

"The International Naval Review is all about celebrating 75 years of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the bonds it has forged globally," said Brownlee.

"Despite the changes to the planned celebrations, it's poignant to see the anniversary marked with such cooperation and camaraderie," he said.

"I have no doubt the military hardware which has travelled on ships bound for the International Naval Review will be useful in the days ahead."

Road and rail links into Kaikoura were wiped out in the quake, which killed two people.

About 1,000 tourists were trapped in the town, which is famed for its coastal scenery and whale-watching activities.

Navy detachments from at least 15 countries had been scheduled to attend the naval review in Auckland from Nov. 17 to 22.

It was expected to include a Chinese navy frigate, an Australian frigate and submarine, a Japanese destroyer, a frigate each from Canada and the Republic of Korea, and the USS Sampson. Endit