Russia sending extra group of rescuers to quake-stricken Myanmar

MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) - Additional planes of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry with rescuers on board will head to Myanmar, which was earlier rocked by a devastating earthquake, the ministry's press service said.

"The Emergency Situations Ministry of the Russian Federation is reinforcing its group of rescuers involved in cleanup efforts and helping the population in the affected region following a devastating earthquake. Two [Ilyushin] Il-76 planes of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry are departing for Myanmar with 95 rescuers aboard," the press service said in a statement on Monday.

This additional team also includes K9 units and medical workers.

"The relevance of Russian assistance was noted by the authorities of Myanmar during a meeting of the quake aftermath cleanup headquarters," it said.