Australia sends rescue team to Japan
![A Japanese soldier smiles as he holds a four-month-old baby who survived the tsunami. Australia has sent a 72-member rescue crew to Japan, including sniffer dogs. [AFP: Yomiuri Shimbun]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201103/r734159_5946516.jpg "A Japanese soldier smiles as he holds a four-month-old baby who survived the tsunami. Australia has sent a 72-member rescue crew to Japan, including sniffer dogs. [AFP: Yomiuri Shimbun]")
PHOTO
A Japanese soldier smiles as he holds a four-month-old baby who survived the tsunami. Australia has sent a 72-member rescue crew to Japan, including sniffer dogs. [AFP: Yomiuri Shimbun]
Kalvin Ng
Last Updated:
An Australian search and rescue team sent to Japan is making its way to the areas worst affected by Friday's earthquake and tsunami.
The 76-member crew, including two sniffer dogs, flew out of Australia on the weekend carrying 20 tonnes of search and rescue equipment.
A spokesman from New South Wales Fire Rescue says they will drive by bus and truck on Tuesday to Minami Sanriku, a port town in the Miyagi prefecture where up to 10,000 people are missing.
The journey is expected to take at least 10 hours, and the team will have to walk the last five kilometres.
With no mobile phone coverage and limited fuel and fresh water, the rescuers will have to endure tough winter conditions.
The temperature could drop to minus four degrees. Snow and rain is also predicted.
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