BRISBANE - A chartered plane carrying Australian medical experts and equipment has landed in Samoa.
The aircraft left Brisbane for the Pacific island at 2am (AEST) with 26 personnel, including doctors and nurses from Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan said
the plane had landed in the Samoan capital of Apia and the medical staff were on their way to the national hospital.
"It is quite a good and well-staffed hospital but of course firstly they're getting a lot extra caseload because of the terrible damage and some of the staff have been sent to the damaged areas to provide support," Mr McMullan told the Seven Network.
"So they're short of resources, specialist resources at the hospital and a plane load has just arrived.
"And we've got a Hercules at Richmond being loaded now to go to Apia this morning with more medical personnel and a lot of equipment - tents, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, water purification tablets and some extra medical personnel."
Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the team in Samoa included paramedics and a team of 10 urban search and rescue officers.
"Three highly trained paramedics will provide medical support to tsunami victims and recovery team members," Mr Roberts said.
"Queensland Fire and Rescue Services' urban search and rescue team will support health workers and provide damage assessment and incidence management capabilities to the recovery effort."
He said a 25-bed mobile hospital would be flown to Samoa later on Thursday.
Another Defence Force aircraft will be loaded with supplies at the RAAF Base in the outer Sydney suburb of Richmond and leave for Samoa later on Thursday morning.
- AAP
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