China rescue team leaves for Haiti

China's International Search and Rescue team is heading to earthquake stricken Haiti. The 50-strong group is expected to arrive in the country Wednesday evening, local time. Team members said their first priority would be facilitating rescue operations.

The rescue team prepared to depart for Haiti late Wednesday afternoon, just hours after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the Caribbean country.

The team consists of seismologists, military rescue workers and medical staff. They have conducted many similar missions in recent years.

Members of a Chinese rescue team with sniffer dogs are ready to board a  plane leaving for quake-hit Haiti, at the Capital International Airport  in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 13, 2010. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake  hit Haiti on Tuesday local time, collapsing a hospital and damaging  government buildings in its capital city of Port-au-Prince.  (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)