FRANCE: French rescue specialists prepare to leave for quake-hit Japan

Record ID: 464337

  • Title: FRANCE: French rescue specialists prepare to leave for quake-hit Japan
  • Date: 14th March 2011
  • Summary: ISTRES, FRANCE (MARCH 13, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE AIR BASE OF ISTRES TRUCKS OF THE CIVIL SECURITY OUTSIDE THE WAREHOUSE MEN UNLOADING BAGS TO BE TAKEN TO JAPAN MEN UNLOADING THE CONTENT OF IRON BOXES MEN IN WAREHOUSE IN THE BASE MEN CARRYING STRETCHERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) LEADER OF THE CIVIL SECURITY UNITS LEAVING FOR JAPAN, COLONEL FRANCOIS VALLETTE, SAYING: "There are a hundred men leaving for Japan, and we are leaving with 12 tons of freight. The equipment we're bringing along is composed of specific materials made for this very type of operation which rescuing people stuck under rubble." JOURNALIST ASKS FOR MORE DETAIL "There are tools for digging, to reach under blocks that have collapsed, in order to reach victims who could be stuck under them." MORE OF WAREHOUSE VARIOUS OF VIBRAPHONE (EQUIPMENT THAT LOCATES PEOPLE UNDER RUBBLE) BOX IN WHICH THE VIBRAPHONE EQUIPMENT IS CARRIED WITH SIGN READING "RECO-ECOUTE" (SOUNDBITE) (French) SPECIALIST FROM THE MONACO FIREMEN BRIGADE, SERGE DAFFARA, SAYING: "We are leaving with vibraphone and vibrascope, very specific listening machines to locate buried people. They can detect very subtle sounds, sounds coming from deep deep down." VARIOUS OF FIREMAN LOOKING AT EQUIPMENT LIST EQUIPMENT PROTECTIVE GEAR MASK (SOUNDBITE) (French) SPECIALIST FROM THE MONACO FIREMEN BRIGADE, LIONEL REA, SAYING: "We are also leaving with equipment necessary to protect ourselves from radiation and to protect ourselves from potential contamination. Well, actually, not from radiation exactly, because no one can protect themselves from this... So we have clothing and breathing protection." RESCUE WORKERS PASSING ALONG LUGGAGE VARIOUS OF EQUIPMENT BEING LOADED INTO PLANE SEARCH AND RESCUE SPECIALISTS WALKING OUT THE MILITARY BASE SPECIALISTS ENTERING PLANE VARIOUS OF PLANE
  • Embargoed: 29th March 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVAOXBJW4E5BYCGTLD5DKMA0M2A
  • Story Text: One hundred search and rescue specialists from France prepared to leave for Japan on Sunday (March 13) The specialists, from two sections of the French Civil Security - Brignoles and Nogent-le-Rotrou - and firemen from two sections of the fire services - Monaco department of Bouches-du-Rhone and Vaucluse- were set to depart from the south of France to the Charles de Gaulle before departure for Japan on Sunday night.
    The earthquake search-and-rescue specialists were to leave with technical equipment to assist in finding survivors buried under rubble and wreckage of the worst quake to hit Japan in nearly a century and a half, said Colonel Francois Vallette, who is leading the team of Civil Security Units.
    "There are a hundred men leaving for Japan, and we are leaving with 12 tons of freight. The equipment we're bringing along is composed of specific materials made for this very type of operation which rescuing people stuck under rubble."
    "There are tools for digging, to reach under blocks that have collapsed, in order to reach victims who could be stuck under them," he added.
    Japanese authorities have requested that French aid services hold back deployment of rescue missions until Monday (March 14).
    The exact details of the mission to be carried out by the Civil Security is as yet undetermined, relying upon instructions from the Japanese authorities.
    Among equipment being prepared were anti-contamination protective gear and vibration sensitive machinery.
    "We are leaving with vibraphone and vibrascope, very specific listening machines to locate buried people. They can detect very subtle sounds, sounds coming from deep deep down," said Serge Daffara, a specialist from the Monaco fire brigade.
    The 'EuroAtlantic' Boeing 767 will leave for Japan on Sunday evening.
    The 8.9 Richter scale quake struck on Friday (March 11) afternoon local time triggering a devastating Tsunami. Officials estimate that more than 10,000 people may have been killed by the quake or by the tidal wave.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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