Canadian medical team grounded in Tokyo
Posted Mar 15, 2011 07:08:31 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TOKYO, JAPAN (NEWS1130) – Fears of a nuclear crisis continue to grow in Japan, as the government admits dangerous radiation is leaking from a plant damaged in last week’s earthquake and tsunami. The situation is also preventing a medical team from BC from doing its job.
The local contingent left YVR for Japan on Sunday, intending to hit the ground near Sendai in the Miyagi prefecture, one of the hardest hit areas.
But team leader Dave Johnson tells News1130 that radiation concerns have forced the team to remain grounded in Tokyo. “The mode of transportation has been grounded. The US military is not expected to get us out in the next… until 48 hours from now.”
The group is in Japan for a seven to 10 day deployment, but Johnson admits if it remains grounded for too long: it may have to return to Canada not having done the work it came to do.
“We’re hoping that it doesn’t come down to this but if we just can’t get airborne in the next few days, there may not be a need at that point for us to assess the situation there,” adds Johnson.
The group of five Canadians and two Americans intended to bring much needed supplies for victims affected by the disaster.
