A small group of Air Self-Defense Force members departed Thursday to help tsunami-stricken Thailand, signaling the start of the biggest overseas emergency relief operation ever undertaken by Japan.

The C-130 cargo plane carrying 40 SDF members left Komaki Base in Aichi Prefecture for Utapao Air Base, Thailand.

From there, they will go to Indonesia, the worst-hit of eight nations, to help transport food, medicine and other relief supplies.

In Indonesia, the death toll from quake-induced tidal waves off Sumatra on Dec. 26 is nearing 100,000.

The C-130 stopped in Okinawa Prefecture for refueling and could not continue on its journey because of bad weather at the Thai destination.

Unstable weather conditions will keep the plane in Okinawa at least until today, Defense Agency officials said.

Members of the Ground and Maritime SDF are also expected to join in the emergency relief assistance efforts later. In all, about 1,400 SDF members are scheduled to be dispatched.

Officers with the Joint Staff Council are expected to fly to the disaster-stricken area to coordinate the efforts of the three SDF branches.

About 650 SDF members were on hand as the C-130 plane lifted off from Komaki Base. The 40 members were assembled from ASDF bases around Japan. An additional 10 members are expected to join the group in Thailand.

While the length of the ASDF dispatch is open-ended, sources said the team would likely continue their emergency relief efforts for at least a month.

The 1st Tactical Airlift Group at Komaki Base has also been involved in reconstruction assistance efforts in Iraq since the end of 2003. Members of the group have also been dispatched for emergency relief assistance to Iran.

Lt. Col. Yoshihisa Ishita, commander of the ASDF unit aboard the transport plane, said before departure: ``The damage from the latest earthquake is much more serious than past disasters. We hope to transport supplies to those who need them most as soon as possible.''(IHT/Asahi: January 7,2005)