Satoshi Ogawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent
WASHINGTON--The U.S. Defense Department is preparing to dispatch an expert team trained to operate in areas contaminated with radiation, should the situation deteriorate at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, it was learned Thursday.
Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, told a press conference that 450 members of the team were "making preparations" for a dispatch order to Japan.
Willard also said another team comprising nine nuclear experts left for Japan on Thursday as an advance group. This group is trained to deal with terrorist activities involving nuclear arms and related problems on the U.S. mainland, he said.
According to the Pentagon Web site, the advance group is called the damage evaluation and management squad and is meant to be mobilized first after attacks or accidents involving chemical or biological agents, or radioactive or other nuclear substances.
He said the advance squad is capable of managing radiation and will be ready to provide a range of assistance if requested. It will assess what U.S. military forces would be necessary if the dangerous situation at the nuclear plant does not improve or if there is a massive accident that disperses high-level radiation.
The squad also can assist with search and rescue operations, and support decontamination, medical services, aviation, telecommunication and logistic activities, the Web site says.
However, it has no expert knowledge about the functioning of nuclear reactors.
The team also will advise Japan's Self-Defense Forces at the locations of radiation leaks at the Fukushima nuclear power facility, Willard said.
Willard said he will visit Japan from Saturday to consult with SDF officers about steps to prevent the crisis from deteriorating further.
(Mar. 19, 2011)
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