Swiss send rescue workers to earthquake zone
Switzerland has joined international relief efforts following the earthquake which has killed thousands of people in an area bordering India and Pakistan.
A 48-person team from the Swiss Disaster relief Corps, including army experts, as well as nine specially-trained dogs left Zurich on Saturday to fly to the stricken area.
They took with them 18 tonnes of relief supplies, including 5,300 blankets provided by the Swiss Red Cross.
They are going to concentrate their relief efforts in the Indian town of Bhuj, close to the Pakistan border, which was badly hit by the earthquake.
Swiss charities have also released more than SFr500,000 in emergency funds, and have launched appeals for further donations.
The Swiss Goodwill Chain started an appeal with a SFr250,000 donation, while two other organisation, Heks and Caritas have released SFr100,000 and SFr200,000 respectively.
Indian officials say between 13,000 and 15,000 are feared to have died in the earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale.
swissinfo with agencies
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