GROUPS of rescuers from over 70 countries continued arriving in Japan to help in overcoming aftermaths of the earthquake and in searching for survivors, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

    A group of Chinese rescuers arrived in Japan yesterday morning. It consists of 15 people, possessing rich experience of work in quake-stricken areas, including in other countries. This is the first case when the Japanese side accepts such aid from China. A representative of the group said before departure that Chinese rescuers have dogs, specially trained for searching people in debris, as well as necessary medical equipment.

    It is supposed that the group will work in Japan 7-10 days. The Chinese rescue team was welcomed by Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yutaka Banno at Haneda Airport. The head of the Chinese group promised to take all efforts for rescuing quake-stricken people.

    Rescue teams from Germany and Switzerland also arrived in Japan. The German group includes 40 people, three specially trained rescue dogs and over 15 tons of special equipment while Switzerland sent 25 people and nine sniff dogs. The two groups will go to the city of Minamisanriku where over 10,000 people are regarded as missing.

    A group of U.S. rescuers also arrived in Japan at the request of local authorities. Their plane is expected to land at the Misawa air base of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. The two groups, formed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), include 150 rescuers and specially trained dogs.

    South Korean specialists arrived in Japan on Saturday. The U.S. armed forces, stationed in Japan, were also joining rescue efforts. (SD-Agencies)