New Zealand Fire Service USAR Team Now in Place

New Zealand Fire Service USAR Team Now in Place

The New Zealand Fire Service Urban Search and Rescue team is now in place in northern Japan and focused on the task ahead.

Team leader Fire Service National Manager of Special Operations, Jim Stuart-Black, says he and the Australian USAR taskforce leader and Japanese emergency officials are discussing their planned operations and will carry out a quick aerial reconnaissance of the Minamisanriku area shortly.

“The team morale is great and we are very focused on the work ahead. We are setting up our base of operations and preparing to begin searching for survivors,” he said.

The NZ USAR team is well aware of the nuclear power plant issues emerging 130km south of their base. “We have good information on the situation and are being kept well informed of all developments. We also have our own equipment and are constantly monitoring the atmosphere. The radiation levels here are the normal background levels.”

ENDS

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