Japan's defense ministry is preparing for a possible dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Australia to help battle its bushfires.
The move comes after their Australian counterparts said on Monday that they may ask Japan to send an international emergency relief team.
Australia continues to battle with raging bushfires that started in September.
Japanese officials say that Australia will most likely request the dispatch of SDF transport aircraft to carry firefighters and supplies.
The officials say that a fact-finding team of eight SDF members will travel to the country to gather information on the extent of the disaster and local needs.
They will also coordinate with relevant Australian organizations.
The first batch of the team left Japan on Monday evening.
The defense ministry is expected to make a decision on whether to send its emergency relief team based on reports from the fact-finding team.
NHK
