[shaggy eel]

,,, post 8 - that's the case, indeed. Aussie and the US were first in with offers of help. The Brits would have been asleep, given the time difference of 12 hours and that's what kept them.

Yanks, you rock! Thanks so much for loading up with all that equipment and all those dedicated rescue crews and doing the long haul down here!

This won't be a sightseeing trip. We're hearing that many victims will only be identified by DNA as they're from buildings that caught fire as well as floors caving in etc.

[americanophile]

Prayers to all!