WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND—The first U.S. warship to visit New Zealand in more than 30 years was changing course Tuesday to help evacuate people stranded in a coastal town following a powerful earthquake. New Zealand military officials said they were on target to evacuate about 200 people by helicopter on Tuesday as a major rescue operation unfolded. The Royal New Zealand Defense Force helps evacuate tourists by helicopter from Kaikoura following Monday's earthquake on Tuesday. New Zealand military officials said they were on target to evacuate about 200 people by helicopter on Tuesday as a major rescue operation unfolded. The defence force said it had started ferrying people out by military helicopter and that a navy ship from Auckland was due to arrive in the area Wednesday morning.

Source: thestar November 15, 2016 14:07 UTC