FIREFIGHTERS from West Midlands Fire Service deployed to help with international search and rescue efforts in Nepal have now made it to the quake-zone.
Firefighter Dave Haywood, from Stourbridge Fire Station, and Bickenhill station commander Dean Harris, who lives in Stourbridge, are among nine West Midlands firefighters who were deployed on Sunday (April 26) as part of a UK International Search and Rescue mission to help after the 7.9 quake struck 80k northwest of Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Saturday.
Three members of staff from West Midlands Ambulance Service, including Oldbury based Hazardous Area Response Team paramedic Simon Greenfield, are also among the rescuers.
Heavy air traffic at Kathmandu airport at first saw the team diverted to Delhi early on Monday before they were able to travel onwards to the disaster zone in Nepal where more than 5,000 people have died and many may still be trapped.
Comprising nearly 70 volunteers from fire and rescue services and health trusts, the UK rescue team - deployed by the Department for International Development - has been tasked with searching an area north of Kathmandu’s centre in the suburb of Chandol - plus surrounding areas.
A spokesperson for the team said: “Our volunteer members train hard and are fully prepared to help in whatever way they can with the rescue efforts.
“These are highly-skilled firefighters and staff from UK fire and rescue services, and specialist doctors and paramedics. They will be giving their all to help the Nepalese during these catastrophic events.
“In all, nearly 70 personnel will provide specialised technical search and rescue assistance in collapsed buildings. This includes locating and rescuing people deeply entrapped, search dog support, medical support, engineering, assessing damage and stabilising scenes.
“It will be extremely challenging work, and we are giving them and their families every support possible.”
An incident command room is being run by West Midlands Fire Service from Birmingham to coordinate the entire UK search and rescue mission in Nepal, which will also include helping the World Health Organisation with the distribution of international aid.
To keep up-to-date with the team's progress in the devastated country follow @UK_ISAR_TEAM on Twitter.
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