Sussex firemen on way to help New Zealand earthquake victims (From The Argus)
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Sussex firemen on way to help New Zealand earthquake victims
7:36pm Tuesday 22nd February 2011 in News
Six Sussex firefighters are preparing to fly to New Zealand and help victims of the earthquake.
Officials have confirmed at least 65 people died after the 6.3-magnitude quake struck about six miles outside Christchurch during lunchtime rush-hour.
The New Zealand government has accepted an offer of assistance from the UK with hundreds of people reported injured or trapped in collapsed buildings.
The West Sussex firefighters will be part of a coordinated response from the UK.
An advance team of six is hoping to leave Heathrow tonight at 10pm.
The main team of more than 60 search and rescue specialists, doctors and medical teams is expected to fly from Gatwick at 5am tomorrow on a plane chartered by the UK government.
The UK teams are currently en-route to rendezvous at Horley fire station, near Gatwick, to be processed for travel documents and medical checks.
Comments(3)
acoustic
says...
11:25am Wed 23 Feb 11
Always working
says...
12:47pm Wed 23 Feb 11
acoustic wrote:These things take time unfortunately. How many times have you turned up at the aiport and just tried to jump on a flight coz you need to be somewhere fast?. Lots of preparation and planning is needed and it's just a B!oody good thing we can send people to help.
Why does it always take so long? The help has got to be there within 12 hours to do any good to those trapped and injured. Leave it for three days and most of the recovered will be the dead!
Only in an ideal world would everyone come to help you in 12 hours.
I love Sussex says...
8:35pm Tue 22 Feb 11