Russian rescuers have found two people alive under debris on the earthquake-hit island of Nias in Indonesia, the Emergency Situations Ministry's press service said Saturday.
"Medical aid is provided to the people who were found under debris," the press service was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
Russian experts said there might be other survivors under the debris. "A people may be alive for 10 days," the press service said.
More than 1,000 people were feared killed after an earthquake measuring 8.5 on the Richter scale struck Nias off Sumatra island on March 28, according to UN estimates.
A host of countries, far and near, including France, Spain, Japan, Australia and Singapore, have sent their rescuers to the quake-hit areas in northwest Indonesia on a mission to search for survivors under the debris.
The first contingent of Russian rescuers have arrived in Gunungsitoli on Nias island and a larger group of rescuers will be transferred to Medan on Sunday and start work immediately.
Emergency Situations Ministry adviser Viktor Beltsov said equipment for a field hospital has been transported to Nias island by helicopter and experts are studying the site where the facility is to be set up.