More than 600 residents and 1,200 tourists have been stranded in Kaikoura after the 7.5 magnitude quake rocked the region overnight. Reports from the area in and around the town say major land slips had completely blocked State Highway 1 with fissures opened up and loose rocks continuing to fall. And a freight train on the rail line near Kaikoura has been stranded between two slips. KiwiRail Group General Manager said the company had stopped the train immediately after the slips and airlifted the driver out. Key later travelled with the New Zealand Air Force across the wider Kaikoura region and said the damage was much worse than initially thought.

Source: The Guardian November 14, 2016 06:00 UTC