Search and rescue specialists from UK fire and rescue services have been flown out to Haiti as part of the government's response to the devastating earthquake in the country.

The United Kingdom International Search and Rescue team was deployed yesterday and has now arrived in the region. The team is made up of 61 firefighters from Greater Manchester, West Sussex, Kent, West Midlands, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Hampshire and Mid and West Wales fire and rescue services, and includes two search dogs and 12 tonnnes of equipment.

The UK has two search and rescue teams for international deployment; at all times one is on call and one is on stand by. John Bonney, president of the Chief Fire Officers' Association, said:

“UK firefighters trained in emergency search and rescue techniques will work within Haiti to help with life saving and recovery. We have followed the standard protocol for deployment and a ‘heavy’ team has been mobilised with equipment in order to aid the location and rescue of people.

“It is a credit to our profession that because we have detailed contingency plans local fire and rescue services can all work together so swiftly and efficiently to provide a highly trained international response team at such short notice."

International development secretary Douglas Alexander said yesterday: "This is a tragedy on a massive scale. Already Britain is playing its part in the huge international response. I am grateful to everyone involved in the effort so far, including Gatwick Airport, whose teams worked hard to get a runway open for this flight, despite the bad weather."