Japanese, Russian rescuers end search in quake-hit Sichuan

Source: Xinhua | 05-21-2008 10:49

CHENGDU, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Japanese and Russian rescue teams were leaving quake-ravaged Sichuan Province in southwest China after ending search and rescue operations on Tuesday.

The head of the Japanese team, Takashi Koizumi, donated relief material and equipment to Sichuan, said a spokesman of the provincial foreign affairs office.

The Japanese team arrived in Sichuan on May 16 -- the first group of foreign rescue professionals after the magnitude 8.0 quake on May 12. The 60 rescuers would fly back to Japan on Wednesday.

A 23-member Japanese medical team arrived in Chengdu Tuesday night.

Separately, 30 people of the 50-member Russian rescue team, along with some equipment, were scheduled to take a charter flight back to Russia on Tuesday night.

The Russian team also arrived in Sichuan on May 16, bringing three heavy-duty professional vehicles for rescue work in the Mianzhu and Dujiangyan areas.

More than 200 rescuers from Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore helped with rescue and relief work in Sichuan, which won gratitude of the Chinese people.

China has agreed to accept medical teams from Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan to go to the quake-hit areas and would consider accepting more foreign medical teams according to the medical aid progress, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the massive earthquake has left a total of 39,577 people dead and another 236,359 people injured in Sichuan Province alone.

Editor:Du Xiaodan