The Russian Government
Due to the devastating earthquake in Japan and the order of the President of the Russian Federation to ensure safety of people in the Far Eastern region, the federal operational headquarters have been immediately established at the National Emergency Management Center of EMERCOM of Russia. It also included representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of natural resources and environment, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health and Social Development, “Rosatom” corporation, Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Rosgidromet), Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety (IBRAE), Federal Reserve Agency and other government departments.
Search and rescue operation is performed be the EMERCOM forces in Japan. There are now 161 Russian rescuers and 7 pieces of equipment. This is the largest foreign group of rescuers providing assistance to the country.
Rescue operation has been carried out near the city of Sendai. This is one of the most tsunami-affected cities in Japan.
Russian specialists have examined about 100 sq km area and pulled out from under the rubble 112 bodies. Unfortunately, they could not find any survivors yet. Although the long-standing practice of rescue operations shows that it is possible to save people from under the rubble within 7 days after the earthquake.
Rescuers are fully found. There are no problems with fuel, as well as water and food supplies. The rescuers have reserve fuel. In addition, the extra fuel has been purchased from the Japanese side.
Background radiation in the area where Russian rescuers work is 0,3 - 0,4 mikrozivert per hour, which is below the allowed values. During all time of rescue operation in the area of work the radiation levels have not exceeded the maximum permissible concentration.
Russian rescuers are currently moving to the west of the island.
Russian rescuers with the Japanese side gathered a group of 35 Russian citizens around Sendai who were in the area. Among them were the film crew of REN TV channel, which covered the events in Japan and was close to Sendai. All these people are moved to Niigata by Japanese transport. It is planned that they would soon be delivered to Russia. There is no threat to the health of Russian citizens.
EMERCOM airplane IL-62 landed in the Khabarovsk airport March 18 at 13.28 MSK which flew from Narita Airport (Tokyo). It carries 66 Russian citizens who wanted to leave Japan.
EMERCOM plane IL-76 landed March 18 at 13.30 MSK in the Tokyo airport. This plane should deliver to Russia the artists of the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard who were on tour in Japan.
At the moment the situation in the Far East region is under control. 550 fixed and mobile stations of monitoring network, laboratory control and aviation organized round the clock monitoring of the environment, including background radiation. Exceeding of natural background radiation was not recorded. Currently there is no danger to the population of the Far East.
