The SAR Government has sent a second team comprising 21 medical professionals from orthopaedics and infectious disease departments to help the victims of the killer earthquake in Sichuan.

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, was at the airport this morning when the team headed for two hospitals in Nanchong.

The Director of the Health Bureau, Mr Lei Chin Ion said the team brought them medical equipment and medicines.

He said rescue work in the disaster area had entered into another stage and that the Government would soon decide if it would be necessary to send a third medical team, depending on the situation in the affected region.

After fierce earthquakes rocked Sichuan on 12 May, Macao sent its first medical team to Chengdu on 23 May. To date more than 500 medical professionals have volunteered to go and help the victims.