International Rescue teams arrive in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Rescue and medical teams from Japan, the USA and France are on their way to help relief operations in Thailand’s Tsunami-hit coastal provinces, the foreign minister, Surakiart Sathirathai told journalists in Bangkok.

A search and medical team from Japan is due to arrive on Tuesday afternoon. The US government is sending a plane-load of medical equipment, along with a rescue helicopter.

The French government’s aircraft equipped with medics, search teams and medical supplies will fly directly to Phuket, said Dr. Surakiart.

The Foreign Ministry has sent consular officials to work in Phuket, Krabi and Pang-nga to facilitate the repatriation of tourists special flights to Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

More than 10,000 foreign tourists are still stranded in disaster-hit zones. The official figures of foreign tourists missing cannot be announced yet, as search and rescue efforts still continuing, the foreign minister said.

--TNA 2004-12-28