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

The 60-member Japanese rescue team arrived at Beichuan, about 160 kilometers northeast of the epicenter, at 10 p.m. on Saturday by bus.

They would carry out rescue operation at a collapsed middle school at Qushan Town where more than 700 students were still trapped.

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

"I have been deeply impressed by the prompt and transparent response of the Chinese government and the unity and cooperative spirit of Chinese people after the quake happened, " said Fujimoto Masaya, deputy director of the China office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, one of the organizers of the Japanese rescue team.

"We will try our best to offer help," he said,

More than 200 foreign rescuers from Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore are in Sichuan to help with rescue and relief.