The clean-up bill to repair infrastructure in the quake-hit area around Kaikoura in New Zealand will likely cost billions of dollars said Prime Minister John Key.
The PM flew over the area Monday and described the devastation as ‘just horrendous.’
Civil Defence officials estimate up to 100,000 landslides in the mountainous area and more than 1,000 tourists are still stranded in the area.
Military helicopters spent all day Tuesday flying in supplies and airlifting tourists and residents out.
Kaikoura, a popular base for whale-watching trips, still remains completely cut off.
China sent four helicopters to airlift 40 Chinese tourists from the area.
"They have been trapped in Kaikoura for a couple of days, some are maybe scared, they have some mental stress," Liu Lian, of the Chinese Consulate in Christchurch told Reuters.
One inland road to Kaikoura may be re-opend by the end of the week, said acting civil defence minister Gerry Brownlee.
Meanwhile, an A-League football match at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium scheduled for the weekend has been postponed due to damages suffered at the 34,000 capacity stadium.
