Japanese rescue professionals arrive in quake-hit SW China

Source: Xinhua | 05-16-2008 08:19

CHENGDU, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A group of rescue professionals sent by the Japanese government arrived in Chengdu, capital of quake-ravaged southwest China's Sichuan Province, early Friday to assist the rescue work.

A group of rescue professionals sent by the Japanese government  arrived in Chengdu, capital of quake-ravaged southwest China's  Sichuan Province, early Friday to assist the rescue work.

The 31 rescuers will go to Guanzhuang Town of Qingchuan County, and another 29 Japanese rescue professionals are expected to arrive Friday afternoon.

They were the first batch of foreign aid personnel since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon.

The Chinese government has also accepted rescue aid offers from Russia, the Republic of Korea and Singapore, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang early Friday morning.

Li Wenliang, counselor from the Foreign Ministry, said this is the first time for the Chinese government to accept foreign professionals for domestic disaster rescue and relief.

Takashi Koizumi, head of the Japanese team, said the disaster in Qingchuan is very severe, and they have yet no idea about the structure of buildings there, but they are very confident about their task.

According to Chinese officials accompanying the Japanese rescuers, more than 700 people of about 260 families were buried in ruins in Guanzhuang Town. About 1,500 people died and more than10,000 injured in Qingchuan County by 4 p.m. on Thursday.