New Zealand's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team in Japan are about to start work in the northeastern town of Minamisanriku, which bore the brunt of Friday's tsunami, in an effort to find any survivors.
The situation in the country has deteriorated today, with explosions at the Fukushima nuclear facility resulting in a fire that is producing a cloud of life-threatening radiation.
Since the magnitude 9.0 quake three explosions have rocked the power plant.
Radiation levels four times a person's recommended annual exposure have been detected at the plant following the explosions.
Fire Service national manager of special operations and team leader Jim Stuart-Black said the team was "well aware" of the nuclear power plant issues emerging 130km south of their base.
"We have good information on the situation and are being kept well informed of all developments. We also have our own equipment and are constantly monitoring the atmosphere. The radiation levels here are the normal background levels."
The team was bracing to begin a search of the devastated area, which would include identifying sites where survivors were most likely to be, undertaking rescue operations and helping to move survivors to safety.
Mr Stuart-Black said he, the Australian USAR taskforce leader and Japanese emergency officials were discussing their planned operations in the tsunami-affected areas and were about to carry out an aerial reconnaissance of the Minamisanriku area, a coastal town about 90km northeast of Sendai.
Minamisanriku was one of the hardest hit areas by the tsunami, despite being several kilometres from the ocean. Officials have suggested that more than half of its 17,000 residents are missing.
Of all its buildings, only three have been left standing - a hospital, a wedding store and a school.
Police believe a train filled with commuters has been buried by debris from the tsunami.
Meanwhile, 1721 New Zealanders have registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to report they are safe and well in Japan.
However, the ministry had specific concerns around the safety of two unnamed New Zealanders who were believed to be in the quake-affected areas.
Embassy staff are providing a range of consular assistance by those badly affected by the disaster, including visiting hospitals and evaluation centres.
Consular staff were also based at Narita International Airport in Tokyo and Sendai in the northeast to help.
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