NZ Concrete cutters head to Nepal…
We’ve all heard about the series of devastating earthquakes that have hit Nepal in recent months, but we don’t often think about how exactly folks deal with the aftermath. We recently ran across this article about some volunteers from New Zealand, and thought it was quite interesting.
Since getting the word 37 kiwis would be heading to Nepal, rescue staff have faced a “logistical nightmare” organising the 10 tonnes of equipment they need.
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) members in yellow high-vis vests flooded Auckland central fire station on Pitt St yesterday when they found out about the deployment and have worked round the clock to ensure they had everything they needed for two weeks in the quake-ravaged country.
Crew members from Christchurch and Palmerston North joined the group at 3pm today.
All but two of the team will depart from Auckland aboard a commercial flight to Singapore tonight before connecting with a flight to the Nepalese capital, arriving at midday tomorrow local time.
One of the task force happened to be in Nepal on holiday at the time and would jump into the relief effort with colleagues once they arrived, while another will be heading over from Thailand where he was on a training mission.
National USAR manager and task force leader Gavin Travers said the sheer volume of equipment made it a daunting prospect.
The cache included concrete-cutting gear, search and rescue technical equipment as well as food, water and shelter.
“When we arrive in Kathmandu we need to be completely self-sufficient,” Mr Travers said.
Read the full story here.
