Cameron concern for quake Britons

A UK search and rescue team has arrived in Ofunato on Japan’s east coast

Prime Minister David Cameron has said there were “severe concerns” for a number of British nationals after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Mr Cameron told MPs the devastation was of “truly colossal proportions” but there were no confirmed UK fatalities.

The UK had offered its expertise to help Japan deal with damaged nuclear reactors, the prime minister added.

More than 4,000 people have so far contacted a Foreign Office helpline for those worried about relatives in Japan.

Mr Cameron said in a Commons statement: “We were all deeply shocked and saddened by the devastation we have seen and by the loss of life, the full scale of which will take many days, possibly weeks, to comprehend.

“I’m sure the thoughts of everyone in this House, indeed everyone in our country, are with the Japanese people and we stand with you at this time.

“As yet there are no confirmed British fatalities but we have severe concerns about a number of British nationals.”

Mr Cameron said the British embassy had sent three rapid deployment teams to the worst affected areas, with another group of officials arriving in Japan on Monday.

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