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| Crews assist Haiti quake rescue | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Emergency crews, charities and the UK government are co-ordinating efforts to help with the rescue operation in Haiti after it was hit by an earthquake. | |
| The 7.0-magnitude quake which hit south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is feared to have killed thousands of people across the Caribbean country. | The 7.0-magnitude quake which hit south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is feared to have killed thousands of people across the Caribbean country. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by the disaster and pledged whatever support was needed. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by the disaster and pledged whatever support was needed. |
| A government spokesman said no British casualties had been reported so far. | |
| 'Know the devastation' | |
| A 61-strong team of firefighters from across the UK has volunteered to fly out to the quake zone. | |
| The team will be taking specialist equipment and two search dogs. | |
| Lincolnshire's Chief Fire Officer, Mike Thomas, will act as team leader for the whole of the UK response. | Lincolnshire's Chief Fire Officer, Mike Thomas, will act as team leader for the whole of the UK response. |
| We stand ready to provide whatever humanitarian assistance is required Prime Minister Gordon Brown | |
| He said many of the team members had helped out in similar situations before and knew what to expect in the rescue operation. | He said many of the team members had helped out in similar situations before and knew what to expect in the rescue operation. |
| "We know the devastation, risks and shock this can have on a community and we'll be there to help as best we can," he said. | "We know the devastation, risks and shock this can have on a community and we'll be there to help as best we can," he said. |
| Greater Manchester firefighter Peter Stevenson, who will work as operation commander when the volunteers arrive in Haiti, said they would work in two teams to search for survivors. | Greater Manchester firefighter Peter Stevenson, who will work as operation commander when the volunteers arrive in Haiti, said they would work in two teams to search for survivors. |
| "One rescue can take between six and 10 hours, depending on the situation and what the building is made from," Mr Stevenson said. | "One rescue can take between six and 10 hours, depending on the situation and what the building is made from," Mr Stevenson said. |
| "We go totally self-reliant, with several tonnes of equipment so we can work 24 hours a day on at least two separate sites." | "We go totally self-reliant, with several tonnes of equipment so we can work 24 hours a day on at least two separate sites." |
| Window of opportunity | |
| The teams will be using heavy breaking equipment, specialist cameras and acoustic listening devices. | The teams will be using heavy breaking equipment, specialist cameras and acoustic listening devices. |
| The group includes volunteers from fire and rescue services in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Sussex, Kent, the West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, and mid and west Wales. | The group includes volunteers from fire and rescue services in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Sussex, Kent, the West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, and mid and west Wales. |
| The firefighters, who will depart from Gatwick Airport, do not know how long they will have to stay in Haiti but a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said they would only have a small window of opportunity to try to reach people buried beneath the rubble. | The firefighters, who will depart from Gatwick Airport, do not know how long they will have to stay in Haiti but a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said they would only have a small window of opportunity to try to reach people buried beneath the rubble. |
| The earthquake caused buildings to topple, trapping people | The earthquake caused buildings to topple, trapping people |
| Mr Brown expressed his sympathy for the victims of the earthquake. | Mr Brown expressed his sympathy for the victims of the earthquake. |
| He said: "I am deeply saddened and worried about the reported scale of the earthquake in Haiti. | He said: "I am deeply saddened and worried about the reported scale of the earthquake in Haiti. |
| "I am sending a message of sympathy and support to President Preval and we are sending a team from the Department for International Development to assess the humanitarian needs. | "I am sending a message of sympathy and support to President Preval and we are sending a team from the Department for International Development to assess the humanitarian needs. |
| "We stand ready to provide whatever humanitarian assistance is required." | "We stand ready to provide whatever humanitarian assistance is required." |
| Much of Haiti's nine million population is impoverished and the disaster comes after years of political instability. | Much of Haiti's nine million population is impoverished and the disaster comes after years of political instability. |
| The country has suffered a number of recent disasters, including hurricanes and storms in 2008. | The country has suffered a number of recent disasters, including hurricanes and storms in 2008. |
| Restoring services | |
| The Department for International Development (DFID) is helping to co-ordinate UK aid being sent to Haiti. | The Department for International Development (DFID) is helping to co-ordinate UK aid being sent to Haiti. |
| A DFID spokesman said: "We are deeply concerned at the reported scale of the earthquake which has struck Haiti. It appears to have been severe, causing considerable damage and harm." | A DFID spokesman said: "We are deeply concerned at the reported scale of the earthquake which has struck Haiti. It appears to have been severe, causing considerable damage and harm." |
| International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander warned that Haiti would need help not only in rescuing individuals, but also in rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring vital public services over the long term. | |
| He told the BBC News Channel: "While it is vital and urgent that we get people on to the ground in terms of rescuing people from the rubble, this is going to be a longer-term endeavour. | |
| "That is why the whole international community needs to work together to address the needs that are uncovered as a result of this terrible tragedy." | |
| Save the Children has released £50,000 and the British Red Cross released £200,000 from its funds to help in the emergency. | |
| Christian Aid also launched a £1m emergency appeal for victims. |