Japan has agreed to accept a team of Russian rescuers to join the search for survivors of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, a spokeswoman for Russia's Emergencies Ministry said on Sunday.
The tremor, which struck the country's northeast, was the most powerful ever recorded in Japan, registering nine points on the Richter scale and causing a 10-meter tsunami wave that swept away people, houses and cars. The death toll is likely to exceed 10,000 while thousands of people are still missing.
"An Il-76 plane of the Russian Emergencies Ministry is preparing to fly to Japan to deliver about 50 rescuers, three relief and rescue vehicles and the necessary equipment," Irina Andrianova said.
Russia will provide this kind of help to Japan for the first time.
MOSCOW, March 13 (RIA Novosti)
