DISASTER relief charity Team Rubicon UK (TRUK), based in Chilmark, has sent volunteers to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the town of Palu and surrounding areas on Friday.

The recce team was mobilised after the charity received a request for international assistance.

Volunteers will work with the authorities and NGOs to deliver aid following the disaster which hit on Friday.

TRUK CEO Richard Sharp said: “Unfortunately we can’t stop earthquakes and tsunamis but we can ensure that our volunteer response teams are always ready to deploy at a moment’s notice to serve the communities whose lives have been ravaged by disaster.

"It pains us to see the beautiful region of Indonesia and its people struck again so soon after the last earthquake but we will do everything in our power to help them recover from this most devastating tsunami.”

To support the charity's work go to crowdfunder.co.uk/operation-palu-earthquake-and-tsunami-relief