October 3, 2009 5:01 PM

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Aid flows into quake-hit Sumatra

International aid has started arriving in Sumatra as concern grows that remote areas may have been devastated by Wednesday's powerful earthquake. British, Australian and South Korean rescuers have arrived and the EU and Russia are also sending help. More than 1,100 people are known to have died and up to 4,000 more are believed trapped beneath collapsed buildings in the city of Padang. Widespread destruction has also been reported in surrounding areas.Specialist teams from around the world have begun arriving at co-ordination centres in Padang, waiting to be deployed to the field. Two Australian planes carrying medical personnel and rescue experts have arrived, with dozens of British firefighters due to join a 16-man deployment later today. A Swiss sniffer-dog team is already on the ground, and Russian, Estonian and Japanese personnel have all been sent. Countries around the world have pledged relief funds. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also called for 10 million dollar in government aid to be distributed quickly.

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