2011-03-14 11:09

TOKYO - The Chinese rescue team is to start search and rescue operations Monday morning in Ofunato city of Japan's northeastern Iwate Prefecture, according to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.

The Chinese rescuers are ready to actively carry out the operations despite enormous difficulties in Ofunato, one of the cities worst hit by Friday's 9 Magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami, said Yin Guanghui, head of the rescue team.

According to local media reports, supplies of essential resources have been wiped out and communications infrastructures crippled in the disaster.

The 15-member rescue team, which arrived in Japan around midday Sunday, got to Ofunato at about 9:40 pm (1240 GMT) Sunday.

The number of people who have died or remain unaccounted for across the affected areas in northeast and eastern Japan exceeded 3,200. Some 2,000 bodies found Monday on shores in Japan's Miyagi Prefecture, Kyodo reported.