It's much more serious than we imagined, says Chinese team

Risking the effects of nuclear radiation, Chinese rescuers continued their relief work in the Japanese coastal city of Ofunato in Iwate prefecture - one of the worst-hit cities in last Friday's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

A 15-member team arrived in Ofunato on Sunday night and was the first overseas team to join relief efforts in the city, the People's Liberation Army Daily reported.

Since water and electricity supplies were cut, they had to operate under a self-sufficient system, the report said. The team brought nearly four tonnes of equipment, including different kinds of advanced life and radiation detection instruments, tools to cut through steel and concrete in demolished buildings, first-aid supplies, camping equipment, food and water.

'The situation here is much more serious than we ever imagined. All the sights and sounds were from debris,' Peng Bibo, a medical expert with the PLA armed police, who joined the rescue team, told the newspaper via a maritime mobile system telephone call.

'We have tried our best to conduct door-to-door searches, but so far no survivors have been found.'

Despite the incredible disaster, Peng said people in Ofunato welcomed the Chinese team with enthusiasm.