LANCASHIRE firefighters were today sifting through the debris of a Japanese coastal city left devastated by the huge earthquake and resulting tsunami.

The six men, from stations across the county, are part of the 63-strong UK International Search and Rescue team which flew out to Japan at the weekend.

After landing at the US military base of Misawa, they set up camp in Ofunato, 75 miles south, which has a population of 42,000.

Although the town’s infrastructure has been decimated and thousands are people are feared dead.

But experts hope there will be some survivors because a number of large buildings are still standing.

This means the sniffer dogs accompanying the team, which are trained to detect signs of life, will be crucial.

The Lancashire contingent comprises Bamber Bridge firefighter Mark Noblet, who lives in Fulwood; Lancaster firefighter Graham Mossop, who lives in Halton; Leyland firefighter Jim Davison, who lives in Lancaster; Leyland firefighter Darren Kyle, who lives in Morecambe; Preston firefighter Andy Hayes, who lives in Bamber Bridge; and retired former Blackburn and Burnley firefighter Andy Barnes, who lives in Oswaldtwistle.

Yesterday the team set up their tented base on the outskirts of the town and were set to start searching late last night UK time, which is in the morning Japanese time.

If they find signs of life they will use specialist tools that can penetrate reinforced concrete to access the victims.

Ofunato has been brought to the world’s attention in the aftermath of the earthquake, with cars perched on the roof of a building, and houses being swept out to sea by the giant tsunami.

In 1933, about 3,000 people from the surrounding area were killed by an earthquake and tsunami.

The UK party is working alongside teams from Fairfax County and Los Angeles County from the United States.

The UK’s team, who are expected to be deployed for two weeks, brought 11 tonnes of specialist equipment to Japan to help in the search for survivors.

Lancashire Fire Chief Officer Peter Holland, who is president of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, said he had been in contact with colleagues in Japan and assured them the UK delegation would do everything it could to help.

He added: “Our highly trained international response team has again been called upon to provide assistance in the wake of another global emergency.

“It is a credit to our profession that our teams are called upon and that local fire and rescue services can all work together so swiftly and efficiently to provide much needed assistance at such short notice.”