An 11-member Japanese medical team left Wednesday for Nias Island in Indonesia, the hardest hit area in Monday's 8.7-magnitutde earthquake off Sumatra Island. The team, scheduled to stay for two weeks, will provide medical assistance to the injured as part of an international emergency relief mission. The Japanese group comprises 11 medical workers, including doctors and nurses. About half the members worked in Sri Lanka and other areas affected by the devastating earthquake-triggered tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean region on December 26. On Tuesday, the Japanese government announced it would provide blankets, tents and power generators worth 15 million yen (140,000 dollars) for victims of Monday's earthquake along with the medial team following an aid request from Indonesia. --SP 1330 Local Time 1030 GMT
