Rescue experts, medical teams, sniffer dogs and supplies were being mobilised yesterday as a worldwide effort cranked into gear to bring aid to victims of a massive earthquake that struck South Asia.

Japan, the United States and the European Union were among the first to offer manpower and financial aid to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan following Saturday's quake, which is believed to have killed more than 19,000 people.

Pakistan was worst hit and President Pervez Musharaf called for

international assistance.

"Right now we are facing the biggest tragedy of our history. I am sure that the entire nation will face it steadfastly," he said ahead of a planned visit to the quake-hit region.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry said Tokyo had sent a 50-strong emergency relief team to the Islamic republic.

In Britain, which has a large South Asian community, the government said it was sending an initial allocation of 100,000 pounds (176,000 dollars) to Pakistani authorities.

Search and rescue teams from four firefighting forces across Britain were

also headed to the region and Defence Secretary John Reid said British troops in Afghanistan were "ready to assist if required".

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the dispatch of up to 60 staff was an initial offering. British Muslim charities have also pledged hundreds of thousands of pounds in aid.

Additional search and rescue teams were also being sent from France, Turkey -- which itself is prone to violent earthquakes -- Greece and Switzerland.

The Japanese team included police, disaster management and coast guard specialists whose skills

have been honed dealing with the country's regular temblors.

They would be engaged in search and rescue operations as well as information gathering, the ministry said in a statement.

The Japanese Red Cross was also sending four medical specialists to Islamabad as an advance team to investigate the extent of the damage caused by the quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

Shortly after news of the tragedy began filtering out of the region, European ministers offered financial aid as well as rescue teams.