Japan: 32 bodies recovered in massive search effort

Japan: 32 bodies recovered in massive search effort

2011-04-02 06:46:16 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The first of a three-day intensive search effort for quake victims in Japan with the help of the U.S. resulted in 32 bodies, officials said Friday.

Japan's Defense Ministry announced that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and the U.S. military recovered 28 bodies, and the Japan Coast Guard found four more in the northeastern part of Japan, three weeks after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the region, Kyodo news agency reported.

According to the National Police Agency, as of Friday 9 p.m. local time, the disaster's death toll stood at 11,734 in 12 prefectures while the number of reported missing people totaled 16,375 in six prefectures. Many of the unaccounted people are believed to have been carried offshore after the tsunami.

The three-day search operation will be deploying around 8,000 SDF personnel and about 7,000 U.S. military personnel to several areas including those largely submerged in water.

In addition, dozens of ships and helicopters will be used, including about 100 aircraft and 50 ships from the SDF with about 20 aircraft and 15 ships taking part from the U.S. military. Members of the Japanese police, the Japan Coast Guard and fire departments will also be participating in the search efforts.

The operation will not cover a 30-kilometer (18.6-mile) radius around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture where radioactive material is leaking into the environment.

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