12.00pm
A group of 60 school children from Arrowtown's Tarras School may have their camp unexpectedly extended, after today's quake brought down a slip which blocked the access road to their campsite.
The group are at Deep Cove Hostel at the head of Doubtful Sound. A large slip had blocked the Wilmot
Pass road -- the only road access into the area -- Department of Conservation area manager Reg Kemper told NZPA.
"They're working on the slip at the moment...the children could either be in for an extra night or be transferred over the slip, if it was deemed stable enough, to a waiting bus on the other side."
The majority of the children apparently slept through the quake, Mr Kemper said.
DOC had several staff out in the field and it was believed they were all well, he said.
"We have structures we need to check and sites we need to check. That's all been scheduled at the moment. There has been a large amount of damage to the landscape and vegetation in and around the Mount Irene area, which is between the epicentre and Te Anau."
- NZPA
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