The Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, has indicated that two C130 Hercules aircraft with medical teams are now on their way to Denpasar in Bali to assist victims of the explosions.
The Australian Defence Force deployed the first Royal Australian Air Force C130 Hercules medical evacuation aircraft and medical team around 10am this morning.
The aircraft will land in Darwin to refuel before deploying to Denpasar.
Appropriate diplomatic clearances have been approved by the Indonesian Government for an Australian military aircraft to operate into Indonesian territory.
The aircraft will land in Denpasar at approximately 8:00pm (EST).
While the C130 is capable of carrying up to 30 patients, the mix of medical evacuees and the exact numbers carried on each flight will be determined by the Aero Medical Evacuation team leader.
This determination will be based on the nature of the injuries and of the ability of the medical team to provide proper care to critically ill evacuees.
The aircraft will depart as soon as casualties and the appropriate medical response is determined. It is expected to return to Darwin around midnight Australian (EST).
A Government interdepartmental working group is currently working on reception and medical treatment of patients on arrival to Darwin.
As foreshadowed by the Prime Minister earlier, a second C130 Hercules has been configured as a medical evacuation aircraft with a medical team. It has departed RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney and will fly directly to Denpasar. It will arrive in Denpasar around midnight Australian (EST).
Subsequent flights into Bali by the C130s will be organised if and when required.
Both C130 aircraft have ADF flyaway medical teams consisting of seven specialists - including skilled ADF doctors (an anaesthetist and surgeons) and nurses. At this stage details of any Australian casualties and numbers involved are yet to be confirmed.
The ADF will also provide an aircraft to transport consular and federal police officials to Denpasar which will depart Canberra at 6:30pm Australian eastern standard time. The flight will arrive in Denpasar at 02:30 am Australian (EST).
The ADF is highly trained in dealing with such situations as has been proven with similar ADF aero-medical support to tidal wave victims in Papua New Guinea in 1999.
Any further ADF commitment will be considered by Government in close consultation with Defence as updates to the situation are received. (ends)
Australian Defence Force Support to Bali Explosion Victims
