{"id":30159,"date":"2016-04-17T13:25:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-17T13:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2016\/04\/17\/japan-earthquakes-u-s-marines-launch-disaster-relief-teams\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:22:17","slug":"japan-earthquakes-u-s-marines-launch-disaster-relief-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/breaking-news\/2016\/04\/17\/japan-earthquakes-u-s-marines-launch-disaster-relief-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan earthquakes: U.S. Marines launch disaster relief teams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor’s note: <\/strong>This story was originally published April 17, 2016, at 9:25 a.m. EST.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An undisclosed number of U.S. Marines are assisting emergency crews in southern Japan after two\u00a0deadly earthquakes have plunged the region into chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least four MV-22 Ospreys \u2014 with four others on standby \u2014 have joined the relief effort, according to a news release distributed by the U.S. military on Sunday. The aircraft are assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, which is part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The powerful earthquakes struck southern Japan’s\u00a0Kumamoto region on Thursday and again on Saturday, leveling homes and other buildings, and cutting off electricity, water and other basic services throughout\u00a0several towns and villages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to\u00a040 people are dead, according to the Marine Corps’ news release. Hundreds more are injured, some very seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is unclear how many still are trapped in the rubble, but tens of thousands have been displaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Marines were sent to Japan from the Philippines, where they had been participating in a training exercise.\u00a0They flew to a U.S. air station in Iwakuni, in mainland Japan, after a brief refueling stop at the\u00a0Marine Corps’ primary\u00a0facility on the island of Okinawa, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not immediately clear how the Marines and Ospreys will be used once they integrate with the relief effort. The news release indicates only that they will provide aerial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ospreys are capable of flying like helicopters and airplanes.\u00a0They are used to haul people, ground vehicles\u00a0and other heavy equipment. Typically, each aircraft has two pilots and two crew chiefs, who oversee the passenger cabin, and help to load or offload equipment and supplies while on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The situation is currently developing,” Capt. Jennifer Giles, a spokeswoman for the Marines, told Military Times via email. “I will have more information tomorrow.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of Japanese military personnel also have responded. The Associated Press reported Saturday that 1,600 troops were in the region delivering\u00a0blankets and other supplies to the shelters that have been established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n