Greece - a traditional enemy of Turkey - said it was placing its emergency services on alert to help with the crisis.

Greek media said Civil Protection General Secretary Dimitris Katrivanos left for Istanbul in one of three C-130 military transport planes carrying emergency supplies.

Greece sent two emergency medical teams with 11 doctors and pharmaceutical aid, as well as a 25-member rescue team with sniffer dogs and specialized equipment to locate those trapped in rubble, the Athens News Agency reported.

Greece, also an earthquake-prone country, has in recent years developed specialised teams to deal with the aftermath of large quakes.

Israel's crack team

The rescuing of survivors is a priority

Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy says its crack army rescue unit, which helped in the aftermath of the Nairobi bombing last year, is on alert and is ready to go.

He says aid planes are also awaiting word from Turkish authorities before taking off.

The BBC's John Andrew: "Nature gave them more than they bargained for"

"We've made all necessary arrangements, as far as we're concerned we are prepared at any minute. Our special rescue unit is also ready and during the next few hours we will get word from Turkey in order to provide the help we can give."

Search and rescue priority

Britain said it was sending rescue specialists to help find survivors.

"The team is being assembled now and will be dispatched as soon as possible to support the Turkish Government," a Department for International Development spokeswoman said.

The 39 specialists, including fire service personnel and experts from non-governmental organisations, will be rushed to Turkey while officials assess what further aid to offer.

"Search and rescue is the top priority and it needs to happen quickly," the spokeswoman said.

There have also been offers of help from France, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

The United States has offered military assistance and has dispatched a search-and-rescue team. President Clinton said the US would do all it could to help.

Russia is flying rescue workers, medical specialists and search dogs to the region.