South Africans to be honoured for assistance during 2011 Japan earthquake

Specialist members of the South African Urban Search and Rescue Team who served in Japan during the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

The Japanese Ambassador to South Africa‚ Mr. Shigeyuki Hiroki‚ will present certificates of appreciation to the team members at functions in Pretoria and Cape Town on Friday and Monday respectively.

On 11 March 2011‚ the north eastern coast of Japan was struck by an unprecedented

earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0‚ killing more than 18‚000 people and displacing more than 400‚000 others.

South Africa sent a 45-member Urban Search and Rescue Team‚ consisting of firefighters‚ medics‚ disaster response specialists and seven members of the press‚ to Miyagi prefecture in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. This area was the most affected‚ with a loss of 9‚630 lives and 83‚000 houses totally destroyed.

“The SA team served literally tirelessly in such a difficult situation trying to save lives. The whole nation is grateful for their professionalism‚ respect and friendship‚ demonstrated and expressed to the victims of the disaster‚” the embassy said.

Five years after the earthquake‚ people’s daily lives were gradually getting back to normal‚ it added.

“Residents in the region are well aware of the fact that today’s reconstruction is founded on the help of the many people from around the world‚ including South Africa.

“The presentation of certificates is to reiterate the gratefulness of the Japanese Government and people. “