Britain sends rescue team to quake-hit Indonesia

An emergency response team from the department was also flying to Padang on Indonesia's Sumatra island to help assess the scale of the disaster.
"Thousands of people are still trapped under the rubble in Padang and their hopes of survival decrease the longer they remain," said International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander.
"The UK's fire and rescue experts will help provide a lifeline.
"In addition, we stand ready to assist the government of Indonesia and are in regular contact with the Indonesian authorities, other donors and agencies in Jakarta."
Indonesia said Thursday it feared thousands had died in the major earthquake as exhausted rescue workers clawed through mountains of rubble with their bare hands in a race to find survivors.
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