Japan to help Indonesia with quake relief efforts

Japan to help Indonesia with quake relief efforts

An advance team from Japan's Self-Defense Force could leave as early as Tuesday for Java Island, parts of which were devastated in a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, according to a Defense Agency spokesman who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

The team will conduct surveys to determine how many troops Japan will send and how long they should stay there, the official said. The dispatch will involve land, air and naval troops, he said, the AP reports.

Indonesia's Social Affairs Ministry has said at least 5,137 people died in the quake, which struck Saturday.