By Martin Kay
The Dominion Post
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — More than 600 emergency workers from six countries will help in the search for Christchurch quake survivors.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the Government had accepted help from Australia, the United States, Britain, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan after deciding it was too risky to turn down offers without knowing the full extent of the search and rescue needs.
“We’ve got some very good friends. The phones have been very busy with people wishing us well, and of course, we’ve erred on the side of caution.
“We are some distance away from some of these countries, but we made a deliberate decision...that we could see that there was going to be a need for some days to have expert assistance and we weren’t shy in asking for it.
“People have been very understanding about the lack of certainty and prepared to commit on the basis that we needed people here quickly with the appropriate skills.”
Two Australian specialist urban search and rescue teams comprising about 100 personnel landed in Christchurch and went to work yesterday, and a 22-strong medical team has also been dispatched from across the Tasman.
Australia is also sending 290 sworn and unsworn police officers, mainly from New South Wales, after a request from Canterbury district commander Superintendent Dave Cliff.
Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls said the officers, who would not be armed, would work alongside New Zealand police and have full powers. They were all expected on the ground by Friday and would stay for up to 14 days initially.
Ten disaster victim identification officers were also being sent.
Mr McCully said 116 personnel were coming from Singapore, including a 55-strong disaster relief team due last night. Two Singapore military aircraft are due today with extra equipment.
The US is sending a 75-member specialist urban search and rescue squad and Japan — which has internationally recognised expertise in earthquake recovery — is sending 60 personnel.
Taiwan has sent a team of 24 searchers and a 63-strong British unit arrives tonight.
Civil Defence Minister John Carter said that more than 200 urban search and rescue specialists would provide a huge boost to the rescue effort, allowing investigations of all buildings in which there might be survivors by the end of the week.
Mr McCully said the Government was constantly assessing what was needed in the rescue effort and was actively considering several other offers of help.
It was also in close contact with overseas missions in New Zealand to help foreign nationals caught up in the earthquake make contact with family and friends.
More than 235 police from around New Zealand have also been sent to Christchurch, including 50 from Auckland, 30 from Counties-Manukau and 50 from Wellington.
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