Finland Times

 

Finnish rescue team at the Kuopio Airport on Monday to fly for Nepal to support the earthquake hit Nepal. But the visit was cancelled as the Nepalis authority did not give permision. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

The flight for a Finnish rescue team out of Kuopio to Nepal was cancelled, or at least postponed, because they have not received permission from the Nepalese government to land. 

The 29-member Crisis Management Centre team was supposed to leave for Nepal Monday evening.

 

According to team leader Marko Rostedt, other countries have also had problems getting into Nepal. 

 

“The airport is small, creating logistical problems. We’ll ask again in the morning. But for now, it looks like we have to unload everything and return to our homes. We tried our very best, and we were ready to help,” he commented from the airport.

 

Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

The team coming from all over Finland was alerted during the weekend. The purpose of the team was to help find survivors in the wreckage following the earthquakes. They were bringing two dogs, micro-cameras, listening devices and seismic sensors. The team’s activities would have required no outside assistance.

 

Four women were among the 29 members, including Dr. Petra Portaankorva from Oulu. 

 

“I have taken leave from my work for training in crisis management, and the training has turned into the real thing,” she said before learning of the flight cancellation.

 

Travelling with the rescue team was to be 15 Estonians and three Norwegians as well as three people from the Red Cross and the foreign ministry.