Japanese rescue team arrive in quake-hit area

Source: Xinhua | 05-16-2008 17:07

QINGCHUAN, Sichuan, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A group of earthquake relief professionals sent by the Japanese government arrived at Guanzhuang Town of Qingchuan County, one of the worst hit counties of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The 31 well-equipped rescuers, together with Chinese personnel, are ready to go to the landslide site five kilometers ahead on foot due to road damages. Another 29 Japanese rescue professionals are expected to arrive Friday afternoon with sniffer dogs.

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

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.

He said their most important task is to save lives and they will spare no effort. They are scheduled to stay in Qingchuan about one week but it depends on the reality.

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.

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.

The confirmed death toll in the province has reached 19,509 by 4 p.m. Thursday. Another 102,103 people were injured and 12,323 buried in the rubble. Rescuers have pulled 13,465 people alive out of the debris.

Editor:Zhang