MANILA, Feb. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States has ordered two warships, 17 helicopters and 1,000 Marines involved in joint exercises with Philippine troops to participate in rescue operations for a devastating landslide in the central Philippines, officials said Saturday.

International community launches rescue operations for a devastating landslide in the central Philippines. [Xinhua/AFP]

    Ships and nearly 6,000 U.S. military personnel were taking part in the annual joint exercises called Balikatan around the Philippines.

    The two warships are capable of carrying thousands of gallons of water-purification equipment, generators and blankets, which are expected to be handed over on Sunday.

    The U.S. government has also provided 100,000 U.S. dollars worth of disaster equipment to the Philippine Red Cross, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Paul Jones said.

    "We're so pleased to be able to offer this assistance. We were about to practice this together in Balikatan and this is an opportunity to do it together," Jones said.

    A devastating landslide occurring Friday buried a village in Southern Leyte province in the central Visayas region. Up to 1,800 people may have been killed and only 57 survivors have been found so far.

    President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement: "I call on each Filipino to pray for the victims and the survivors." She added that her priorities were to rescue the living, recover the dead and rebuild the community.

    Besides the United States, many other countries have promised to offer assisstance.

    The Australian government said it would give 740,000 U.S. dollars in immediate relief to help the victims, while the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Japan is preparing to provide emergency relief assistance as soon as the Philippine government sends a request based on its assessment of the rescue operations.

    Meanwhile, Spain offered its most sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

    The International Federation of the Red Cross is sending body bags, emergency trauma kits, ropes, flashlights and other relief goods, as well as 150,000 U.S. dollars in initial assistance. Enditem