Emergency rescue teams in New Zealand have begun evacuating scores of trapped tourists and residents from Kaikoura, the town hardest hit by a huge earthquake and a series of powerful aftershocks. <br /><br /> Monday’s 7.5 magnitude tremor killed two people. <br /><br /> The South Island town, north east of Christchurch, was at the epicenter of the quake, and has been completely cut off from the rest of the country. <br /><br /> New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key said: “We think there is a list of about 140 people that we’re looking to get out of Kaikoura as rapidly as we can, they’re on a priority list. It’s obviously subject to weather.” <br /><br /> It is estimated up to 100,000 landslides may have been triggered following the quake a wave of strong aftershocks and providing desperately needed food and water supplies to Kaikoura, and other stricken areas, remains a top priority. <br /><br /> The damage is expected to run into billions of euros after major road, rail and energy links were completely devastated by the quake.<br />
