A strong earthquake killed at least 65 people in New Zealand’s second-biggest city, Christchurch, with more casualties expected.

Attempts to rescue 29 men — including a South African — trapped in a New Zealand coal mine suffered a new setback on Tuesday.

Efforts to rescue 29 men trapped in a New Zealand coal mine faced more agonising delays on Sunday when authorities said they would drill a new shaft.

New Zealand rescuers had still not made contact with 29 trapped miners on Saturday, almost 24 hours after an explosion ripped through a colliery.

An explosion rocked a remote colliery in New Zealand on Friday, trapping 27 miners underground, the company and local authorities said.

Aftershocks and winds buffeted Christchurch on Sunday as a clean-up got under way after the country’s worst earthquake in 80 years.

Authorities declared an overnight curfew for Saturday after a major earthquake hit New Zealand’s second biggest city, Christchurch.