Tourists, residents stranded after New Zealand quake

Officials in New Zealand are preparing to rescue about 1,000 tourists and several hundred residents from a remote coastal town cut off during an earthquake that struck early Monday morning. The magnitude-7.8 quake killed two people, triggered a small tsunami on the South Island, and sent a slew of rocks and mud cascading over roads and rail lines. It also knocked out water and sewage systems in the town of Kaikoura, which is popular with whale-watchers. The military began ferrying people out on helicopters today and planned to send a naval ship to the area tonight. But the weather is expected to deteriorate, with strong wind and heavy rain complicating rescue and relief efforts. The last major earthquake in New Zealand struck the city of Christchurch in 2011, killing 185 people and causing an estimated $25 billion in damage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.