The death toll might have been much higher had the Royal Navy ship HMS "Veronica" not been in port at the time. Within minutes of the shock the "Veronica" had sent radio messages asking for help. The sailors joined survivors to fight the fires, rescue trapped people and help give them medical treatment. The "Veronica"'s radio was used to transmit news of the disaster to the outside world and to seek assistance. The crew from two cargo ships, the "Northumberland" and "Taranaki", also joined the rescue works, while two cruisers, HMS "Diomede" and HMS "Dunedin", were dispatched from Auckland that afternoon with food, tents, medicine, blankets, and a team of doctors and nurses. The cruisers sailed at high speed overnight, arrived on 4 February and provided valuable assistance in all areas until their departure on 11 February.