A powerful earthquake has rocked New Zealand's sparsely populated southwest Fiordland region.
The shallow earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck shortly after midnight on Friday, New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said.
After shocks, one measuring 6.2, were continuing to shake the region on New Zealand's south island.
The quake triggered a rockslide that blocked the Wilmot Pass road, the only vehicle access to the remote Deep Cove at the head of Doubtful Sound in the Fiordland National Park.
A group of 60 children up to 12 years old from The Terrace primary school in central Otago were staying at Deep Cove Hostel.
Radio New Zealand reported a digger was working to clear the slip and options are being looked at to rescue the children.