West Midlands firefighters help with Japan rescue effort

[dutchman]

Twelve West Midlands Fire Service personnel will help with the rescue effort in Japan less than a week after returning from quake-hit New Zealand.



The men are part of a team of 63 rescue specialists due to depart from Manchester later.

It is thought at least 1,000 people died in the 8.9-magnitude quake in Japan on Friday which also triggered a tsunami across the Pacific ocean.

The team is taking two search dogs and 11 tonnes of equipment with them.

Last month, seven West Midlands firefighters travelled to Christchurch after it was hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake.