NZ setting up three urban search and rescue teams

Three urban search and rescue teams are to be set up in New Zealand over the next 18 months.

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management adviser John Lovell said the three teams would be similar to 28 teams set up across the United States.

Many of the American urban rescue teams were called to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Mr Lovell, who is chairing an international search and rescue conference in Christchurch today, said the ministry had been working on establishing an urban search and rescue capability for the last 18 months.

"They will be small, highly trained and well equipped teams, which should be at the ready within 18 months," he told NZPA.

"They will be based in Palmerston North, Christchurch and Auckland and will be based on the American model though we can't go into their size.

"But they will be very similar to and compatible with the Australian urban teams, so both countries can work in together in the case of any disaster."

Mr Lovell opened the meeting yesterday with a moment's silence for all the rescuers who died during the year, particularly those who died at the twin towers on September 11.

The conference is looking at lessons learned from the rescue after the attacks on America and also from the January 26 earthquake in India which killed about 30,000 people.

Four American rescuers involved in the Pentagon and twin towers rescues showed a video and answered question of the events following September 11.