Japan Offers Help for Quake-Hit New Zealand Town

Sydney, Nov. 15 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government has expressed its readiness to offer support for a New Zealand town hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck early Monday. The town, Kaikoura, located on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, has been isolated as large-scale landslides caused by the temblor damaged roads and other infrastructure there. The New Zealand government is trying to rescue stranded people, including tourists, using warships and helicopters. But the rescue has been hampered by a number of aftershocks. Kaikoura, a famous tourist spot known for whale watching tours, has a population of about 2,000. More than 1,000 tourists were in the town when the powerful earthquake hit the South Island. Two people have been confirmed dead due to the quake. New Zealand Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee said that Kaikoura has been completely isolated, adding that delivering supplies to the stranded people and rescuing them are top priority. Brownlee expressed gratitude for the offers of support from Japan as well as the United States. END