Tags: China  foreign  Japanese  news  ntd  ntdtv  refusing  rescue  Team  
Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: May 17, 2008 at 11:15 am
Author: NTDTV
Length: 01:07
Rating: 5.00
Views: 2393
CHEN:After days of refusing foreign relief workers, China has accepted offers from four countries to send in rescue teams. Japan's emergency rescue team headed for China yesterday as the first foreign team to help out with the aftermath of China's massive earthquake.STORY:The team's departure came immediately after the Chinese Communist Party announced they have accepted Japan's offer of sending trained earthquakerescue specialists.The first group consisting of 30 rescue professionals and paramedics arrived in Chengdu this morning.They are taking state-of-the-art rescue equipment, including radars that can detect people buried under rubble. Tokyo plans to dispatch another 30 rescuers today, and then a team of 20 medics to the worst-hit areas.[Osamu Hara, Head of Rescue Squad]:"Of many foreign countries, Japan was chosen to be the first country to send a rescue team to China. We hope to meet their expectations."No military personnel is accompanying the rescue teams.The devastating earthquake has killed nearly 20,000 and left tens of thousands of others missing. The Chinese Communist party has also accepted help from Russia, South Korea and Singapore but has refused specialist help from many other countries.The late arrival of specialist help greatly reduces the chance of survival for many trapped victims.