SINGAPORE - Singapore has despatched military helicopters and a team of medical and rescue workers to the earthquake-hit Indonesian island of Nias, the government said Tuesday.
The three Chinook helicopters will provide transport in and out of the affected area and carry out medical evacuation, while the team will assist local agencies with relief efforts, the defence ministry said in a statement.
A C-130 military transport plane was scheduled to ferry additional personnel and relief supplies to Indonesia on Wednesday.
"The Indonesian authorities have accepted Singapores offer of assistance for relief efforts on Nias island," the statement said.
Nias island appears to have borne the brunt of the 8.7-magnitude earthquake which is believed to have killed at least 400 people.
The epicenter of the quake was just 200 miles (320 kilometres) from that of the December 26 temblor which sent tsunamis crashing into 12 nations, killing more than 273,000 people.
Neighbouring Singapore was one of the first countries to extend humanitarian aid to Indonesia in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster.
03/29/2005 10:47 GMT