LOC16:32
13:32 GMT
LONDON, March 12 (KUNA) -- A team of UK search and rescue specialists and
medics is flying out to Japan to help in the aftermath of the catastrophic
earthquake and tsunami that ripped through the country, the Government said
Saturday.
Japan requested assistance today after the magnitude 8.9 earthquake rocked
the north eastern coast yesterday.
More than a thousand people are believed to have been killed and many more
are missing after the massive quake struck, sending a wall of water across the
Pacific.
At around 8,000 times more powerful than the one which devastated
Christchurch in New Zealand last month, the earthquake was one of the largest
ever recorded.
The team of 63 UK fire service search and rescue specialists, two rescue
dogs and a medical support team were organised by the Department for
International Development (DfID).
A DfID spokesman said: "They will fly from Manchester airportm northern
England, later this afternoon and travel directly to the centre of the
disaster zone in northern Japan as quickly as possible.
"On arrival tomorrow, they will immediately join the international search
for survivors, providing relief for Japan's own rescue teams.
"The team will take up to 11 tonnes of specialist rescue equipment,
including heavy lifting and cutting equipment to save the lives of people who
are trapped in the debris". (end)
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KUNA 121632 Mar 11NNNN