Japan has placed an international emergency rescue team on standby for dispatch to the United States following Tuesday's terrorist attacks, the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission said Wednesday.

The 78-member team, including 24 police officials, can depart within two hours of a request by the U.S., Jin Murai told a news conference at the National Police Agency.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 24 officials, including rescue specialists of the Tokyo Fire Department, were part of the team that is standing by at Haneda airport in Tokyo.

According to the agency's Ambulance and Rescue Service Division, the team is prepared to head to the U.S. on a government plane, also on standby at the airport, and expects to conduct rescue operations in New York.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said three doctors and three nurses will join the team.

The ministry said it has asked the 530 hospitals specified as disaster-relief bases and 158 critical-care centers nationwide to provide data on beds available in their intensive care units and other departments to prepare for the transfer of Japanese citizens seriously injured in the attacks.

The Japan Rescue Association, based in Osaka Prefecture, offered its assistance to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency and has made preparations to dispatch four rescue dogs and 10 personnel as soon as it receives permission to enter the U.S., officials said.

At an emergency meeting of the National Public Safety Commission earlier in the day, Murai explained police response in Japan so far, such as stepping up security around U.S.-related facilities.

Tokyo to donate aid

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly said Wednesday it will provide some 7.24 million yen to New York, the capital's sister city, following the attacks Tuesday on the World Trade Center.

In addition to $50,000 (5.97 million yen) to be prepared by the assembly, each of its 127 members will offer 10,000 yen as an expression of sympathy, the assembly said.

Assembly Chairman Toshiya Mita will send telegrams to New York Mayor Rudolf Giuliani and the New York Municipal Assembly to extend condolences, it said.

The nation's 47 prefectural governors pledged Wednesday to cooperate with the central government to extend support to rescue operations in the U.S. The governors also urged the central government to take the best possible measures to prevent a similar terrorist attack in Japan.