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 rescuer from Japan receives an interview after arriving at Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on May 16, 2008. A Japanese rescue team arrive in the quake-hit Sichuan Province in southwest China early on Friday to assist local disaster relief efforts. The Japanese rescue team, comprising 31 members including technical workers and medical stuffs, is the first group of foreign aid personnel to China following the devastating 7.8-magnitude quake which jolted a wide range of areas on Monday.  (Xinhua Photo)

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.

A Japanese rescue team arrive in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province to assist local disaster relief efforts, on May 16, 2006.  (Xinhua Photo)

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.

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.

(Xinhuanet)