Stranded Dutch tourists rescued from New Zealand
About 60 Dtuch tourists who were stranded in Kaikoura, New Zealand after an earthquake this weekend, are now able to continue their journey. Travel agency Travel Essence arranged a small airplane to pick them up from the coastal town, NU.nl reports.
The popular coastal town was cut off from the rest of New Zealand when an earthquake caused landslides that completely blocked the only road to and from Kaikoura. More than a thousand people, including the Dutch tourists, were stranded in the town since sunday.
The Dutch were evacuated by airplane on Tuesday. "The people who were stuck there are very relaxed and relieved. They just wanted out", a spokesperson for the travel agency said on Tuesday, according to the newspaper. He added that tourists who had to cancel a visit to Kaikoura were mostly annoyed and disappointed. The town is very popular because you can see whales and dolphins from its shores.
Earlier rescuers started evacuating tourists and residents from the town with four air force helicopters, which arrived on Tuesday morning.
On Wednesday two ships from the New Zealand Navy arrived in Kaikoura. In addition to evacuatin people from the area, the ships also brought food, water and other supplies for people remaining behind in the town.
