There have been two fatalities after a series of huge earthquakes overnight, Prime Minister John Key says. Authorities were scrambling this morning to assess damage and respond to reports of injuries after the first, 7.5 magnitude earthquake centred near Hanmer Springs. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management confirmed there had been two deaths from the earthquake. One person died in a house that collapsed in Kaikoura, and a second person died at a house in Mt Lyford, north of Christchurch. Mr Key said a Defence Force helicopter would be flying to Kaikoura and another one would be available in Wellington. An Urban Search and Rescue team from Christchurch was also on its way to Kaikoura by helicopter, along with two further assessment teams deployed to Waiau and Blenheim. As a…