Suva, Fiji: Australia’s rescue effort is underway in Samoa with the first medical team on the ground this morning to help local authorities deal with the aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami, reports The Australian.

Four Australians including a six-year-old girl, a Tasmanian woman celebrating her 50th birthday, a Victorian woman and a two-year-old New Zealand child with Australian permanent residence are among the 140 dead and there are graves fears for another who was travelling with one of the victims.

Six Australians remain missing although the Department of Foreign Affairs remains hopeful that communications problems may be responsible for confusion over the fate of some of the missing.

Parliamentary secretary for International Development Bob McMullan said today Australia stood ready to help.

“The first aircraft has arrived in Samoa…with 26 medical personnel from Queensland, NSW and South Australia," Mr McMullan said this morning.

“Surgeons, anaethists, nurses, paramedics, public health experts and first aid experts. We expect them very shortly to be in action in hospital.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told has described the death of the six year old Australian girl as an “absolute tragedy".

“We are working ... very closely, not just with the Samoans, but with our friends in New Zealand, the government of France, and others who are active in the region to provide all levels of practical support possible.

“But it may take some time before the full impact of this natural disaster is known.”'

The popular resort area of Samoa on the southeast of Upolu island were among the hardest hit by the tsunami.