Japanese rescuers spend restless 24 hours in China quake-hit area

Most residents like Wei in the county seat became homeless after the quake and they stay overnight in tents or temporary shelters built with tarpaulin.

Japanese rescuers spend restless 24 hours in China  quake-hit area

"The government has provided us with plenty of food and water. We are striving to be optimistic," said Wei.

The rescue operation never went smooth as aftershocks, measuring up to 4.0 magnitude, frequently shook the fragile wrecks of collapsed buildings and the small cement blocks rained down.

However, the rescuers did not quit and they worked in turn in three groups. Those off-duty rescuers slept on the ground with their uniforms on.

"We are rescuers and we should be prepared to work anytime when needed," said a rescuer Tugumasa Muraoka.

While rescuers were removing the cement pieces with hands where tools were unable to reach, locals gathered near the security line at the site, watching and waiting.

At 7:25 a.m. Saturday, the bodies of Song and her daughter wererecovered. They were wrapped with quilts and were later put on thefloor in a nearby building.

All the Japanese rescuers, lowering head and closing eyes, stood by the bodies in two lines and mourned for the victims. Song's husband, who had been watching the rescue all night, knelt down on the ground and wept by his dead wife.

Japanese rescuers mourn for quake victim

"I'm sorry we have not find anyone alive and we would like to send our deepest condolence to the families of the victims," said Takashi Koizumi.

However, their courage and professionalism won the hearts of local Chinese.

"They had tried their best and they gave me the last chance to see my daughter. they are heroes of my family," said Zhang Xiangling, 55, Song's mother.

Takashi Koizumi's team was joined by a second group of 29 well-equipped Japanese earthquake rescuers and three sniffer dogs in Qingchuan at noon on Saturday and later they all left for Beichuan, another badly-hit county where at least 7,000 people were said to die in the quake.

The newcomers include two females. Some team members participated the rescue operations in the Iran earthquake in 2003 and the Indonesia tsunami in 2006.

"We hope that we can arrive at Beichuan as soon as possible. The top priority is to rescue the survivors and we still have confidence," said Kawatami Yoko, one of the two females who is also a nurse.