WELLINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government has dispatched more air force flights to support the disaster response in Vanuatu following a 7.3-magnitude earthquake which struck the Pacific nation two weeks ago.
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules aircraft carried out further flights after the massive quake that left at least 14 people dead and hundreds more injured so far, according to the New Zealand Defense Force on Tuesday.
Two round-trip flights took place last week between New Zealand and Vanuatu for the change of shift of disaster relief staff and equipment from various agencies, most from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and bring home Kiwis being evacuated from Vanuatu.
After last weekend's flights, most of the people initially deployed by agencies to Vanuatu are now home, said RNZAF Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott. ■
