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| New UK rescue team flies to earthquake-hit Japan | New UK rescue team flies to earthquake-hit Japan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A second UK search and rescue team has flown to Japan to help the aid effort, after the huge earthquake and tsunami. | A second UK search and rescue team has flown to Japan to help the aid effort, after the huge earthquake and tsunami. |
| Twelve volunteers from Scotland-based International Rescue Corps arrived in Tokyo on Monday night, from where they will be deployed by the authorities. | Twelve volunteers from Scotland-based International Rescue Corps arrived in Tokyo on Monday night, from where they will be deployed by the authorities. |
| The Foreign Office says it has "severe concerns" about the whereabouts of a number of British citizens. | |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken to his Japanese counterpart about ways the UK can assist. | |
| The UK has also offered its expertise to help Japan with its nuclear crisis. | The UK has also offered its expertise to help Japan with its nuclear crisis. |
| Thousands of people are believed to have died when a 9.0-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami struck on Friday. The latest official death toll stands at about 2,400 - but some estimates suggest 10,000 may have been killed. | Thousands of people are believed to have died when a 9.0-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami struck on Friday. The latest official death toll stands at about 2,400 - but some estimates suggest 10,000 may have been killed. |
| The event has sparked a nuclear emergency, with three reactors exploding in four days at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, 250km (155 miles) north-east of Tokyo. | The event has sparked a nuclear emergency, with three reactors exploding in four days at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, 250km (155 miles) north-east of Tokyo. |
| Mr Hague spoke to Japan's foreign minister, Takeaki Matsumoto, on Monday night in Paris, where G8 representatives are meeting. | Mr Hague spoke to Japan's foreign minister, Takeaki Matsumoto, on Monday night in Paris, where G8 representatives are meeting. |
| "I stressed... the importance of our embassy working with local authorities across Japan, because clearly we are very worried about British nationals who are not yet accounted for." | "I stressed... the importance of our embassy working with local authorities across Japan, because clearly we are very worried about British nationals who are not yet accounted for." |
| He added: "Then there is longer-term work that we will do to assist Japan in the process of trying to recover from its worst catastrophe since 1945." | He added: "Then there is longer-term work that we will do to assist Japan in the process of trying to recover from its worst catastrophe since 1945." |
| Earlier Prime Minister David Cameron said there were "severe concerns" for a number of British nationals, but no confirmed deaths. | Earlier Prime Minister David Cameron said there were "severe concerns" for a number of British nationals, but no confirmed deaths. |
| Millions without food | Millions without food |
| The International Rescue Corps (IRC) team, based in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire and funded by donations, was joined in Tokyo by two colleagues from New Zealand, taking the team's number to 14. | The International Rescue Corps (IRC) team, based in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire and funded by donations, was joined in Tokyo by two colleagues from New Zealand, taking the team's number to 14. |
| Although the team specialises in urban search and rescue - such as looking for survivors in collapsed buildings - it was thought more likely they would be put to work on the humanitarian effort to help survivors, said an IRC spokesman. | Although the team specialises in urban search and rescue - such as looking for survivors in collapsed buildings - it was thought more likely they would be put to work on the humanitarian effort to help survivors, said an IRC spokesman. |
| He said they had worked with the Japanese people before, to provide humanitarian help following the Kobe earthquake of 1995. | He said they had worked with the Japanese people before, to provide humanitarian help following the Kobe earthquake of 1995. |
| Hundreds of thousands in the affected areas have been made homeless, while millions have been left without food, water and power. | Hundreds of thousands in the affected areas have been made homeless, while millions have been left without food, water and power. |
| Earlier a 63-strong UK International Search and Rescue (Isar) team deployed by the Department for International Development arrived at its base 12 miles (20km) outside Ofunato in the north-east. | Earlier a 63-strong UK International Search and Rescue (Isar) team deployed by the Department for International Development arrived at its base 12 miles (20km) outside Ofunato in the north-east. |
| Ofunato, about 100 miles north of Sendai, is one of the many coastal communities laid waste by the power of the tsunami. | Ofunato, about 100 miles north of Sendai, is one of the many coastal communities laid waste by the power of the tsunami. |
| The team said pictures of the town had indicated there were many large buildings damaged but still standing, in which there may be survivors. | The team said pictures of the town had indicated there were many large buildings damaged but still standing, in which there may be survivors. |
| The team of 59 search and rescue experts, four medics and two sniffer dogs are hunting for victims still alive who may be trapped in rubble and debris. | The team of 59 search and rescue experts, four medics and two sniffer dogs are hunting for victims still alive who may be trapped in rubble and debris. |
| Mr Cameron said the government had asked the UK's Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike Weightman, to report on the implications of the situation at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant for British facilities. | Mr Cameron said the government had asked the UK's Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike Weightman, to report on the implications of the situation at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant for British facilities. |
| He said: "This is clearly a fast-moving and rapidly changing picture, and the Japanese government are doing everything they can to manage the situation they are facing." | He said: "This is clearly a fast-moving and rapidly changing picture, and the Japanese government are doing everything they can to manage the situation they are facing." |
| The European Commission is holding a meeting of ministers and experts on Tuesday to discuss the implications. | The European Commission is holding a meeting of ministers and experts on Tuesday to discuss the implications. |
| The German and the Swiss governments have suspended decisions on their nuclear programmes, and an Austrian minister has called for new safety tests on nuclear reactors across the continent. | The German and the Swiss governments have suspended decisions on their nuclear programmes, and an Austrian minister has called for new safety tests on nuclear reactors across the continent. |
| Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said the UK would need to learn "everything we can" about the Japanese disaster. | Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said the UK would need to learn "everything we can" about the Japanese disaster. |
| One lesson could be to employ more caution on where nuclear plants are sited, he added. | One lesson could be to employ more caution on where nuclear plants are sited, he added. |
| Cobra meetings | Cobra meetings |
| Meanwhile more than 4,700 people have so far contacted a UK Foreign Office helpline for those worried about relatives in Japan. | Meanwhile more than 4,700 people have so far contacted a UK Foreign Office helpline for those worried about relatives in Japan. |
| Mr Cameron said three UK consular rapid deployment teams had been sent to the worst affected areas, and another group of officials was due to arrive in Japan on Monday. | Mr Cameron said three UK consular rapid deployment teams had been sent to the worst affected areas, and another group of officials was due to arrive in Japan on Monday. |
| "They will help find out information for the families who are, rightly, very worried about their relatives potentially caught up in this tragedy," he said. | "They will help find out information for the families who are, rightly, very worried about their relatives potentially caught up in this tragedy," he said. |
| Mr Cameron said the Downing Street emergency committee Cobra had met several times about the situation in Japan over the weekend and again on Monday. | Mr Cameron said the Downing Street emergency committee Cobra had met several times about the situation in Japan over the weekend and again on Monday. |
| He said: "The devastation we are witnessing in Japan is, of course, of truly colossal proportions. | He said: "The devastation we are witnessing in Japan is, of course, of truly colossal proportions. |
| "But Japan and the Japanese people are a resilient and resourceful nation. Britain and the British people are your friends and we have no doubt you will recover." | "But Japan and the Japanese people are a resilient and resourceful nation. Britain and the British people are your friends and we have no doubt you will recover." |
| Opposition leader Ed Miliband said Labour fully supported the government's efforts to help Japan. | Opposition leader Ed Miliband said Labour fully supported the government's efforts to help Japan. |
| Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes said his party sent its condolences to the people of Japan and supported rescue efforts in the country. | Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes said his party sent its condolences to the people of Japan and supported rescue efforts in the country. |
| Earlier Mr Hague urged British nationals to confirm they were safe by contacting the Foreign Office on +44 (0)20 7008 0000. That is also the helpline number for relatives. | Earlier Mr Hague urged British nationals to confirm they were safe by contacting the Foreign Office on +44 (0)20 7008 0000. That is also the helpline number for relatives. |
| The Foreign Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Tokyo and the north-east of Japan. | The Foreign Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Tokyo and the north-east of Japan. |
| Shares in UK insurers slumped after estimates that the claims bill for the earthquake could be as much as £22bn. | Shares in UK insurers slumped after estimates that the claims bill for the earthquake could be as much as £22bn. |
| Are you concerned about relatives in Japan? Send us your comments using the form below? | Are you concerned about relatives in Japan? Send us your comments using the form below? |