British rescuers fly to Iran
British emergency rescue workers have flown out to the pulverised city of Bam, Iran, where an earthquake killed more than 15,000 people and injured thousands more.
Britain, America, European countries such as Russia, Germany, Poland, France, and Italy have pledged to send aid, including rescue specialists, firefighters, sniffer dogs, doctors, paramedics and engineers.
Around 50 British volunteers flew out on Friday evening from Stansted airport on a government-funded plane.
The British Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal following the quake.
Donations can be made by ringing 0207 245 1000.
The Department for International Development (DfiD) is considering whether a formal British contingent should be sent to Iran.
The earthquake occurred at 0528 local time (0158 GMT) Friday. Two strong aftershocks followed the original quake.
Two thirds of the buildings in the historic city, situated some 600 miles southeast of the capital, Tehran, have collapsed, with many people feared trapped under the rubble, state TV reported Friday.
Iranian TV said around 30,000 people were injured in and around the city.
Two hospitals had collapsed, crushing many workers, and the remaining hospitals were full. The wounded were being taken to neighbouring towns.
With water, electricity or gas supplies damaged, Iranians braced themselves as night fell with temperatures forecasted to fall below freezing.
In June 2002, a tremblor hitting 6.3 on the Richter scale devastated northern Iran, killing at least 229 people and injuring more than 1,000.
