A TEAM from Okehampton-based Rapid UK are among British rescuers continuing to pull survivors from one of Indian's worst earthquakes, which it is feared could claim 100,000 lives.
Twelve members of Rapid UK were dispatched to render humanitarian assistance last Saturday following the devastating earthquake which struck the north west province of Gujarat the day before.
The team, which includes staff from the Westcountry Ambulance Service, are carrying fibre optic cameras, heat-seeking equipment, sonic listening devices and specialist cutting gear.
Among the people they have located and rescued have been a baby and a ten-year boy.
The rescue mission is continuing as long as there is hope of finding people alive but many teams were scaling down the hunt for survivors yesterday (Wednesday).
Rapid UK have been working in the town of Bhju searching the estimated 80 collapsed high-rise buildings for survivors. All team members are volunteers and have been given release from their normal work duties on humanitarian grounds.
Chief executive of the Westcountry Ambulance Service Michael Willis said: 'All of us here at the ambulance service are extremely proud of the actions taken by the team in India — the only foreign aid team currently operating in that particular area.
'I think it is impossible for us to appreciate fully the conditions that the team are currently working in or the suffering of the population there.'