Deaths reported after massive New Zealand quake

Tuesday, November 15, 2016, 1:37 PM - Clean-up costs are expected to run into the billions after a powerful earthquake rocked New Zealand's South Island on Monday.

The quake struck at 12:02 a.m. Monday, local time, originally had a magnitude of 7.4, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). That was later revised upward to magnitude 7.8.

Hundreds of aftershocks have been felt since the quake, including a 6.3 magnitude tremor north of Christchurch, and one measuring 5.8 in the hard-hit Kaikoura region.

A 2 metre tsunami impacted the east coast of the South Island following the initial quake, but no further tsunami warnings were issued after the first ended Monday afternoon.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said at least two people had been killed, according to the BBC, at least one of whom was killed when a building collapsed.

WATCH BELOW: Inside a pro shop, the moment the earthquake struck

Related: 10 massive quakes that changed history

Massive structural damage has been reported on Twitter, and the shaking was felt as far away as the capital, Wellington, where people fled buildings. To make matters worse, the area was hit with heavy rain and flooding Tuesday that forced the closure of several highways, rail lines and schools.

Many roads in the affected area suffered major cracks and fissures, while land slips were also reported, leaving some of the worst-hit areas inaccessible. 

Four air force helicopters continue to airlift approximately 1,000 tourists and hundreds of residents out of the coastal town of Kaikoura. The quake is reported to have knocked out electricity, phone, water, and sewage systems in the area. Land slips have also blocked most roads and railways leading in or out. Other aircraft and two ships are helping with the evacuations, according to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Hundreds of people have been relocated to temporary accommodation. Since Monday morning, at least 1,000 people have fled to the Maori meeting place in Kaikoura. Access to the coastal town will take "several months" to repair, Transport Minister Simon Bridges told reporters Tuesday.

More than 400 aftershocks have been reported across the country. 

Amanda De Monte, a former Weather Network meteorologist who was in Wellington at the time of the quake, said she and others initially evacuated their hotel, but were later told the safest place was inside.

"Most of the locals have felt these things before, and they assured us that buildings in Wellington are built to incredible strengths to withstand these kinds of quakes, so we shouldn't be too concerned," De Monte said. "But obviously it's hard to to tell somebody who's never experienced that before not to be concerned when the ground is shaking under them and you feel the building literally flexing and swaying."

Cows stranded

Video below shows three cows stranded on a tiny island near Kaikoura after a field collapsed around them Monday. Fortunately, they have since been rescued. According to the BBC, their owner, farmer Derrick Millton, dug a track and herded them down to a safe location. The two adult cows and one calf were among 14 which were rescued after the earthquake.

Millton told BBC the cows, "desperately needed water, cows don't like living without water so that was the first requirement, and I think one or two had lost calves in the earthquake so they were a bit distressed."

The earthquake is further from Christchurch than the 2011 tremor that killed at least 185 people and caused widespread damage there.

However, that quake was a weaker Magnitude 6.3. The latest quake is much more powerful, and struck at a very shallow depth of only 10 km, according to the USGS.

New Zealand is no stranger to seismic activity as the country lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Sources: The Telegraph | Stuff | CBC News |