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Post rescue efforts - 03-18-2011, 01:48 AM

Russia rescuers in Japan extricate 60 bodies of dead from under debris

17.03.2011, 18.22

TOKYO, March 17 (Itar-Tass) - Russian rescuers extricated 60 bodies of the dead from under debris in two days in the area of the Japanese city of Sendai, stricken by the devastating earthquake and tsunamis, Itar-Tass learnt from head of the rescue group and top ranking official of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies Andrei Legoshin.

“We have searched an area of 30 square kilometres as of this Thursday. Regrettably, we have not found live people,” Legoshin said by telephone. According to the head of the rescue group, specialists cleared up on Thursday debris with the use of light equipment.

Besides, rescuers make constant measurements of radiation background due to the precarious situation at the Mukushima-1 nuclear power plant. “The radiation level is now normal in the Miyagi prefecture,” Legoshin noted.

The head of the rescue group compared the nature of destruction with what he saw in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami. However, according to Legoshin, great quantities of water remain in the area of Sendai due to the local terrain, interfering with rescue operations. “The volume of work is tremendous. All areas are covered with mutilated cars and various fragments. Therefore, it is difficult to move around,” Legoshin noted.

His group was joined on Thursday by 50 officers of the Centre for Special Risk Operations, called Leader, and 25 members of the Far Eastern regional search and rescue detachment, who arrived in Japan on Wednesday. The Russian group is the largest among those who arrived in Japan: it consists of 161 people.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
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